Arkansas Baseball Loses To Pacific, Goes 0-4 In Arizona

It's a really long season, and there's still plenty of time to get better, but clearly the Hogs are not where we thought they'd be right now. In the four games in the Coca-Cola Classic, Arkansas scored 6 runs, lost twice to Arizona State, once to Pacific, and once to Gonzaga.

Ouch.

Here's the recap of the last game from UA:

SURPRISE, Ariz. – Pacific scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth, capped by a walk-off single from Eric Lockwood, to defeat Arkansas, 4-3, on Sunday afternoon at the Surprise Recreation Complex.

The Razorbacks are now 7-5 on the season, while Pacific improves to 4-6 with the win.

With the Razorbacks ahead 3-1 in the bottom of the ninth, the Tigers put together a three-run rally to claim the win. With one out, Jason Taasaas and Tyler Sullivan hit back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second. After a strikeout of Taylor Murphy for the second out of the inning, Brett Sullivan singled into right to score Taasaas and send Tyler Sullivan to third. J.J. Wagner then hit a grounder to short, but it was booted by Brett McAfee, allowing Tyler Sullivan to score and advancing Brett Sullivan to second. Dustin Torchio was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Lockwood then hit a 3-2 pitch up the middle to score Tyler Sullivan with the game-winning run.

McAfee and Tyler Spoon each had two hits and a RBI to lead the Razorbacks at the plate. Spoon extended his hitting streak to 12 straight games with his two hits. Brian Anderson also added a hit and a RBI in the loss.

Brett Sullivan and Taasaas had three hits for Pacific. Sullivan drove in a run and scored twice. Torchio and Lockwood also had a RBI.

Pacific reliever Kevin Hammann (1-0) earned his first win of the season. Hammann struck out the only batter he faced in the top of the ninth.

Arkansas reliever Brandon Moore (1-1) took the loss. Moore allowed three runs, only one earned, on four hits and struck out one in an inning of work.

Neither starter factored into the decision. Arkansas starter Randall Fant gave up a run on four hits and struck out five in four innings. Pacific starter Michael Benson tossed eight innings, allowing two runs on eight hits and striking out three.

Arkansas struck first, scoring a run in the top of the first. Matt Vinson led off the game with a triple to the right-center field alley. With one out, Spoon hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Vinson with the game’s first run.

Pacific answered back with a run in the bottom of the first. Brett Sullivan doubled to start the inning. A sacrifice bunt from Wagner advanced Sullivan to third and he scored on a RBI groundout to second by Torchio.

The Razorbacks regained the lead in the top of the sixth. Spoon and Michael Gunn started the inning with back-to-back singles. A wild pitch moved each runner up a base and a sacrifice fly from Anderson scored Spoon from third base to put Arkansas in front 2-1.

Arkansas added another run in the top of the ninth. Eric Fisher was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch. A ground out to second by Wise moved Fisher to third and he came home to score on a sacrifice fly to right by McAfee to put the Razorbacks in front 3-1.

The Razorbacks open a nine-game homestand next weekend with a four-game series vs. San Diego State. Game times against the Aztecs are set for 6:05 p.m. on Thursday, 3:05 p.m. on Friday, 11:35 a.m. on Saturday and 12:05 p.m. on Sunday.