After getting plenty of run support in game one of the series, the Razorback bats were shutdown in game two of the series against the Commodores.
Jalen Beeks was by far the star of the game for the Diamond Hogs. He didn't get the run support Killian benefited from the night before. Beeks' seven strikeouts in seven innings of work has become par for the lefty. He only allowed two earned runs as well.
Beeks made a mistake in the fourth inning that was the deciding factor in the game. With a runner on first, John Norwood hit a ball that just snuck over the left-center field wall for a two run homer. Those were all the runs Vanderbilt needed.
The Razorbacks countered with a run in the eighth. Joe Serrano scored from second on an RBI single up the middle by Blake Baxendale. That extended his hitting streak to five games and was the only Razorback hitter to have multiple hits in the game. The redshirt freshman is finally getting his bat going after spending the majority of the season below the Mendoza line.
Credit must be given to the Vanderbilt pitching staff. They didn't allow an earned run (Serrano reached on an error) and had 10 strikeouts between the four pitchers they used. Their closer, Brian Miller, had given up only two earned runs in 21 2/3 innings pitched this season. He came in to face the 7-8-9 hitter for the Hogs and there was little doubt he would get the job done.
The rubber match of the series is scheduled for high noon tomorrow and will be televised on ESPN. Clay Matvick and Kyle Peterson will be on the call. Chris Oliver is scheduled to hit the bump for the Hogs and Tyler Ferguson will do the same for Vanderbilt.