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ARLINGTON, Texas – Eighth ranked, Arkansas finished off its three game sweep at the State Farm College Baseball Showdown on Monday night with a 4-1 comeback win against No. tenth ranked TCU. The Razorbacks concluded their three day trip to Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, with a perfect 3-0 record, third Texas Tech, eighth ranked Texas and tenth ranked TCU.
The Razorback pitching staff had a well of a final two days on the mound. The Hogs’ arms combined for two straight two-hitter games and struck out 18 Horned Frogs in their win. Lefty, Lael Lockhart went 4 1⁄4 innings in his first career start for Arkansas, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out 8. Lockhart transferred in from the University of Houston.
Bullpen Breakthrough
Evan Taylor, Jaxon Wiggins, Ryan Costeiu and Kevin Kopps all entered the game out of the bullpen after Lockhart exited the game. The quartet of pitchers teamed up to toss the final 4 3⁄4 innings and were practically un-hittable down the stretch. They also didn’t give up a single hit and combined to strike out ten Horned Frogs. Arkansas’ bullpen was led by Kopps’ five strikeouts in his two innings of work.
Wiggins was simply was incredible in his Razorback debut. The freshman struck out the side, all swinging, and torched the plate with a 98 mile per hour ball.
Horned Frogs Struck Early
TCU took command of the game early on with a one run lead in the bottom of the second. The Frogs were ahead until the eighth inning when Arkansas’ cold bats heated up in the top half of the eighth for two runs to lead for the first time 2-1.
Late Game Heroics
Outfielder Christian Franklin’s, who’s game tying RBI triple tied the ball game, came across to score on Cullen Smith’s single to right center field that put the Hogs up 3-1 and they never looked back.
“The Captain” Casey Opitz doubled in the ninth inning. Arkansas took a 4-1 lead when Opitz crossed home plate later off a wild pitch by TCU.
The Razorbacks scored 19 of their 21 runs this weekend in the sixth inning or after.
What’s Next
The second ranked Hogs will be back in action later this week. Arkansas will be at home for the first time this season, hosting Southeast Missouri State in a four-game series at Baum-Walker Stadium. First pitch for the home opener is scheduled for this Thursday at 3 PM.