Solo shot lifts Hogs in late-night pitchers' duel, 1-0
In-state crop even better than advertised
Kentucky surges past Arkansas with big second half run, 87-72
Remembering Arkansas' last five wins over Kentucky
Heston Kjerstad's heroics and Kacey Murphy's arm propelled the Hogs to a 1-0 victory over the Arizona Wildcats in Wednesday night's defensive battle in San Diego (Calif.).
Despite going 0 for its first 13 batters and logging only 4 hits all game, Arkansas produced the only run it needed to prevail over the Wildcats in its 14th at-bat, as Kjerstad sent a solo shot to center in the fifth inning.
Arizona's Randy Labaut pitched a gem of a game (3 hits, 1 run, 7 strikeouts), but his mistake to the Arkansas freshman was the story of the night. The Wildcats' bats were stifled by Murphy, resulting in only 2 hits all game.
Here's how the Razorbacks avenged last year's loss to Arizona:
THE WINNING INNING
Arizona threatened to score in the bottom of the fourth inning when Alfonso Rivas singled to left, but a baserunning error and clutch defensive put out by Carson Shaddy ended the inning.
After failing to put a man on base for four straight innings, Arkansas got its first baserunner, first hit and first run from Kjerstad's solo shot to center field, putting the Hogs up 1-0. The Razorbacks would never surrender the lead.
In the bottom of the seventh, Cody Scroggins loaded the bases with two outs after a single, two walks and a passed ball, but Matt Cronin relieved him and got the game-saving ground out to preserve the lead.
Arkansas stranded five runners in the eighth and ninth innings, but Cronin retired the side in the bottom of the ninth, clinching the victory.
STAT OF THE GAME
Arkansas' 1 through 4 hitters - Biggers, Fletcher, Cole, Bonfield - went a combined 1 for 15 on the night. Those same guys came into the game batting 17 for 42 on the year.
Kjerstad not only hit the game-winning home run, he also got hit by a pitch for the fifth time in four games.
WINNING PITCHER
WIN: Kacey Murphy (Arkansas): 6 IP (73 pitches), 1 H, 6 K's, 1 BB, 0 ER
SAVE: Matt Cronin (Arkansas): 2 1/3 IP (38 pitches), 0 H, 3 K's, 1 BB, 0 ER
PLAYER OF THE GAME
The aforementioned Heston Kjerstad went 1 for 3, but his 1 hit was by far the biggest of the night. His first homer of the season put Arkansas up 1-0 in the fifth inning, a lead they would never relinquish.
Junior Kacey Murphy had a solid 2018 debut, allowing only 1 hit and 0 runs while striking out 6 Wildcat batters. Murphy only put one man on base through the first three innings and three total baserunners in his six innings of work.
UP NEXT...
Arkansas faces the Cal Poly Mustangs in their first game of the Tony Gwynn Classic on Friday, February 23. First pitch is set for 3:00 pm (CST) on Cox Sports Television.