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PREGAME
Casey Martin is back in the lineup, playing shortstop and hitting in the 6-hole. The Razorbacks are also giving freshman catcher Dominic Tamez and sophomore outfielder Curtis Washington Jr. starts for the midweek game.
Top 2nd - Arkansas 0, Illinois State 0
Starter Blake Adams gets out of a bases-loaded jam by getting Kyle Soberano to ground out to second base. That preserves the scoreless tie.
Top 3rd - Illinois State 3, Arkansas 0
Adams allowed the first two batters to reach in the third and was relieved by Kevin Kopps, who inherited a first-and-third situation. After striking out the first guy, Kopps gave up a three-run homer to Joe Butler. Once again, the Razorbacks will play from behind.
Bottom 4th - Illinois State 3, Arkansas 2
Martin, who hit a single in his first at bat, just smoked a double into the left field corner to drive in a pair of runs and make it a one-run game.
Bottom 5th - Arkansas 4, Illinois State 3
After a leadoff walk by Braydon Webb, the Razorbacks got back-to-back singles by Robert Moore and Heston Kjerstad. The latter was an RBI, giving Kjerstad 14 RBIs this season and tying the game. With two outs, Martin delivered again, this time hitting an RBI single that gave Arkansas the lead.
Top 6th - Arkansas 4, Illinois State 4
Tyson Hays led off the inning with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, took third on a passed ball (the third of the game for Tamez) and then scored on Jake McCaw's pinch-hit sacrifice fly to tie the game.
Top 7th - Illinois State 6, Arkansas 4
The Redbirds regain the lead on a two-out, two-run single by Ryan Cermak.
Bottom 7th - Illinois State 6, Arkansas 5
The Razorbacks hit three straight singles to start the home half of the seventh, with the last one being an RBI for Franklin. That makes it a one-point game and forces another pitching change.
Top 8th - Illinois State 8, Arkansas 5
Illinois State puts together a two-out rally and tacks on two more runs on Jordan Libman's single.
Bottom 9th - Illinois State 8, Arkansas 7
The Razorbacks start the inning with back-to-back singles and then Nesbit hit an RBI double. That scores a run and puts the tying runs in scoring position. However, Cole Austin struck out and Webb - after a wild pitch scored a run and put the tying run on third - also struck out.
FINAL - Illinois State 8, Arkansas 7
First pitch: 3:02 p.m.
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In-depth preview: Hogs return home to face Illinois State (FREE)
~Starting pitchers for Arkansas and Illinois State
~Scouting report on the Jaguars
~Series history
~Stat of the week
~Stat comparison
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