After no extra inning games or walk off hits the entire season for the Razorbacks, they had both happen in a win in the first game of the doubleheader against Auburn (24-20, 8-12) on Saturday.
Tyler Spoon was the hero for the Razorbacks. With one out and the bases loaded, he blasted a game winning single to right center, scoring the game winning run.
The Razorbacks got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning. Eric Fisher lead off the inning with a double. He moved over to third on Bobby Wernes' groundout to first base. Jake Wise did the honor of putting a deep fly ball to center, scoring Fisher who tagged up.
It looked like the Hogs were going to have an easy time dealing with Auburn's starting pitcher Keegan Thompson. Arkansas added another run in the bottom of the third to make it 2-0. They should have scored more because the bases were loaded with one out, but Blake Baxendale's RBI single was the only run they scored.
Auburn came roaring back in the top of the fourth. With no one on base and two outs, they used the momentum of a hit batsman and turned it into a run. Back-to-back singles following the plunked batter gave the Tigers their first run of the game.
Two more runs crossed the plate for Auburn in the top of the sixth. A throwing error by Bobby Wernes allowed the first run to score. Then a sacrifice fly to left field score the second run and the Tigers had a 3-2 lead.
Arkansas has struggled with clutch two out hitting this season, but got a nice two out RBI-single by Jake Wise to tie the game up in the eighth. Both teams threatened in the ninth, but couldn't get any runs across.
Jalen Beeks had a quality start for the Diamond Hogs. In 6 1/3 innings pitched, he allowed five hits, three runs (two earned), and struck out four. He gave the ball to Jacob Stone, who threw lights out coming out of the bullpen. He didn't give up a hit in 3 1/3 innings of relief, but in a twist of fate, did not get the win. The win went to Michael Gunn, who threw the final 1/3 of the top of the 10th. In typical Gunn fashion, it was a strikeout.
The Hogs look to win the series with the first pitch of the rubber match coming at 8 p.m. tonight.