Serrano's Walk-Off Bomb Lifts Hogs past Aztecs
By: U of A Media Services
Updated: March 9, 2013
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -
Sophomore outfielder Joe Serrano hit a walk-off solo home run with two outs in
the bottom of the ninth to lift the 19th-ranked
Razorbacks to a 4-3 victory over San Diego State on Friday night at Baum
Stadium.
The
Razorbacks improve to 9-5 with the win, while the Aztecs drop to 7-7 with the
loss.
With the
game tied at three and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Arkansas broke a 3-3
tie with the homer by Serrano, the first of his Razorback career. Serrano sent a
1-0 pitch over the wall in left-center field to send Baum Stadium into a frenzy
and lift Arkansas to the walk-off victory.
Serrano
and Tyler Spoon were the offensive stars of the game with each player finishing
the contest with two hits and a RBI. Spoon had the game-tying single in the
bottom of the seventh, while Serrano drove in the game-winning run with his
walk-off round-tripper. Spoon extended his hitting streak to 14 games with his
two hits in the contest. Jacob Mahan, Brett McAfee, Willie Schwanke and Jake
Wise each added a hit in the game.
Matt Munoz
homered and drove in two runs to lead the Aztecs at the plate. Brad Haynal had a
hit and also added a RBI.
Arkansas
reliever Jalen Beeks (2-0) earned the win on the mound. Beeks entered with in
the seventh with Arkansas trailing 3-2 and the bases loaded for San Diego State.
He proceeded to get back-to-back strikeouts to get out of the jam and keep
Arkansas only a run behind. Beeks finished the game by striking out three and
giving up just one hit in 2.2 scoreless innings.
Trent
Daniel also pitched well out of the Razorback bullpen. Daniel struck out four
and gave up just one hit in two innings.
Justin
Hepner (0-1) took the loss for the Aztecs, allowing a run on two hits and
striking out two in 2.1 innings.
Neither
starting pitcher factored into the decision. Arkansas starter Ryne Stanek gave
up three runs on five hits and struck out five in 4.1 innings. San Diego State
starter Philip Walby allowed three runs on six hits and struck out three in 6.1
innings.
The Aztecs
struck first with two runs in the top of the second. With one out, Jake Romanski
walked and with two outs, Munoz hit the first pitch he saw from Stanek over the
right field wall to put San Diego State in front
2-0.
Arkansas
answered back with two runs in the bottom of the third. Mahan drew a leadoff
walk and advanced to second on a single to right by Serrano. With one out, Mahan
and Serrano each advanced a base on a wild pitch. After a foul out to first by
Brian Anderson, Willie Schwanke drew a walk. Ball four to Schwanke was in the
dirt and got past the catcher, allowing Mahan to score and advancing Serrano to
third. Schwanke rounded first and headed to second after the walk. The Aztec
catcher threw down to second. On the throw down to second, Serrano broke for
home and was able to slide in ahead of the tag at the plate to score the
game-tying run.
San Diego
State regained the lead with a run in the top of the fifth. Tim Zier led off the
inning with a single to center. With one out, Haynal lined a double down the
left field line to score Zier from first base and put the Aztecs back in front
3-2.
The Aztecs
had a chance to extend the lead in the seventh, but came up empty. SDSU loaded
the bases with one out, but Beeks came in and struck out pinch hitters Danny
Sheehan and Steven Pallares to end the inning and keep the Razorback deficit at
one.
Arkansas
tied the game with a run in the bottom of the seventh. Mahan led off the inning
with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Serrano. A passed
ball advanced Mahan to third and Spoon grounded a single past the drawn in San
Diego State infield and into centerfield to tie the game at three. The score
would remain tie until Serrano's heroics in the bottom of the
ninth.
The series
concludes on Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled. Game one of the twin bill
will start at 11:35 a.m, with game two beginning approximately 30 minutes after
the conclusion of game one. Arkansas will start freshman righty Trey Killian
(1-1, 1.29) in game one, while San Diego State will start senior righty Ryan
Doran (2-1, 3.32). Senior left hander Randall Fant (0-0, 2.25) will start in
game two for the Razorbacks, while the Aztecs have not announced a starter.
