No. 1 Arkansas clinches series with 7-2 win
By: UA Sports Information
Updated: February 16, 2013
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.
- Joe Serrano and Matt Vinson each drove in a pair of runs, while
Barrett Astin worked five solid innings on the mound as the No. 1
Arkansas baseball team defeated Western Illinois, 7-2, on Saturday
afternoon at Baum Stadium.
The victory clinches the series for the Razorbacks, who improve to 2-0 on the
young season. Western Illinois falls to 0-2 with the loss.
Astin
(1-0) earned the win on the mound for the Razorbacks, throwing five
innings
and allowing one run on three hits with three strikeouts. Jalen Beeks
made his Razorback debut out of the bullpen and struck out four and
allowed just two hits in three shutout frames. Thomas Altimont also made
his debut in an Arkansas uniform, pitching the
ninth and giving up a run on three hits with a strikeout.
Western Illinois starter Tyler Willman (0-1) took the loss after allowing seven
runs, all earned, on seven hits with a pair of strikeouts in 5.1 innings.
Brian
Anderson and Vinson each had two hits to lead the Razorbacks at the
plate.
Vinson drove in two runs, while Anderson scored twice. Serrano also
drove in two runs and scored twice, while going 1-for-3 at the plate.
Jake Wise and Brett McAfee also contributed an RBI each.
Jameson Henning had two hits to lead the Leathernecks offensively. Brent Turner
accounted for Western Illinois' only RBI of the game.
After
a scoreless first inning, Arkansas took the lead with two runs in the
second.
Jacob Mahan doubled to the alley in right-center field to begin the
inning and Serrano was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and
second. After a fly out to center by Wise, McAfee grounded out to first
to advance the runners to second and third with two
out. Vinson was able to get a clutch two-out, two-RBI single into right
field, plating both runners and giving the Razorbacks a 2-0 lead.
Western
Illinois cut the lead in half with a run in the top of the third. Neil
DeCook drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a groundout by Joey
White. Turner then went to the opposite field and singled to left,
scoring DeCook from second base.
Arkansas
got the run back in the home half of the fourth. Anderson started the
inning with a single to left and then stole second. A fly out by Mahan
moved Anderson to third and a ground out to short by Serrano brought
Anderson home to make the score 3-1.
The
Razorbacks put together their biggest inning of the day in the sixth,
scoring
four times. Eric Fisher started things with a leadoff walk and then
advanced to second when Anderson singled on a line drive that hit off
the pitcher's leg. A sacrifice bunt by Mahan advanced runners to second
and third. Serrano then singled into left, scoring
Fisher. Anderson was also able to score and Serrano reached second after
the WIU left fielder committed an error by bobbling the ball. A double
down the left field line by Wise plated Serrano to make the score 6-1.
After Wise stole third, McAfee drove in Wise
with a RBI ground out to third.
Western
Illinois was able to get a run back in the top of the ninth. Jake Moore
led off the inning with a double down the right field line and Mark
Garton singled to right to put runners on the corners with no out.
Tanner Glore grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to score Moore and make
the score 7-2. The Leathernecks were unable to get
any closer as Altimont struck out White looking to end the contest.
Arkansas
and Western Illinois conclude the season-opening three-game series
Sunday
at 1:05 p.m. Redshirt senior southpaw Trent Daniel (2-0, 5.06) will
start for the Razorbacks, while the Leathernecks will counter with
sophomore righty Mason Pingel (0-0, 5.00). Single-game tickets for
Saturday's game are $10 for reserved seats and $8 for general
admission and may be purchased on gameday at the Baum Stadium ticket
office.
