What a difference a year makes. A year after going undrafted, Carson Shaddy went in the 10th round of the MLB Draft, and just a few days later he hit a bases clearing double in the seventh inning blew the game open for the Hogs en route to a 9-3 win over South Carolina and just one win away from the College World Series.
Things did not get off to the best start. Blaine Knight was not as sharp as usual and the Hogs found themselves down 1-0 early on. Arkansas got a sac fly to tie things in the third, but the next frame a solo home run put the Gamecocks back on top. Arkansas got a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the frame with four players getting on without recording a hit, but left the bases loaded again and making the inning feel like it could have been more.
Again, South Carolina was resilient and had an answer. A sixth inning home run from the Gamecocks tied things back up. Again, Arkansas responded almost immediately. Jax Biggers had an RBI single to score Shaddy and put the Hogs up one.
The flood gates opened with Shaddy’s bases clearing double. After two singles and a wild pitch to start the inning, Dominic Fletcher was intentionally walked to set up the force out. Shaddy made them regret that decision. There was another sacrifice fly and Arkansas ended the seventh up 8-3. After tacking on another in the 8th, Barrett Loseke closed the door with three innings in relief.
Arkansas will try to close the door and book their ticket to Omaha tomorrow afternoon. Kacey Murphy will start, and if all goes to plan, Matt Cronin will be available to close the game out.