Arkansas shuts out Alabama A&M
By: Razorback Media Services
Updated: March 13, 2013
Sophomore Chris Oliver got his first start of the season for the Razorbacks and earned the win, improving to 1-0 on the season. Oliver threw three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and struck out a career high five batters.
Allen Belue started for Alabama A&M and took the loss to move to 0-2 on the year. Belue pitched three innings and allowed three runs, two earned, on four hits.
In addition to the 18 hits, the Razorbacks had a season high six extra base hits, recording five doubles and one triple. Brian Anderson had a team high four hits. Joe Serrano, Michael Gunn, Matt Vinson, and Jake Wise all had two hits, while Gunn, Anderson, Vinson, and Eric Fisher each had two RBI.
The Razorback hurlers were exceptional on the mound for UA. Seven different pitchers combined to allow the Bulldogs just two hits, one walk, and no runs, striking out 13 batters.
After Oliver got the Hogs off to a good start by retiring the side in order in the first, Arkansas got on the board quickly in the bottom half of the inning. Jacob Mahan led off the game with a single, followed by a Serrano double to put two runners in scoring position. Tyler Spoon and Gunn followed with sacrifice flies, each plating a runner, putting Arkansas ahead 2-0 after one inning.
In the third inning, the Razorbacks extended their lead. With two outs, Spoon reached on an error by the shortstop, and Gunn ripped a double down the right field line to score him. Oliver exited after hurling three scoreless innings, giving way to senior Tyler Wright.
The Razorbacks added another run in the fourth inning. After singles by Vinson and Wise, Fisher drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to stretch the Arkansas lead to 4-0.
The Razorback offense started to break the game open in the bottom of the fifth with a five run inning. Serrano and Spoon each started the inning with a single, and Anderson beat out an infield grounder for a RBI hit. Vinson plated another with a sacrifice fly to center, and then Wise lined one to center field for a RBI triple. Fisher doubled down the first base line to plate Wise and extend the lead to 8-0. Mahan then grounded one to short, where an error by the shortstop scored the ninth run of the game.
Wright threw two strong innings of relief, retiring all six batters he faced and striking out two. Junior Colby Suggs came on in relief in the sixth and struck out two in his first inning of work.
In the sixth inning, Anderson got on with a two-out single. Vinson followed by smashing a double into the right field corner, scoring Arkansas' 10th run of the day.
Trent Daniel relieved Suggs in the seventh, after Suggs pitched 1.1 innings, allowing one hit and striking out three.
In the eighth inning, the Razorbacks put three more runs on the board. Jordan Farris put two runners in scoring position with a long double to deep center, followed by an RBI groundout by Serrano. Jacob Morris and Anderson also followed with run scoring singles for a 13-0 lead. That would be the final run off the game, as Trent Daniel, Gunn, Jordan Beeks, and Barrett Astin allowed no hits over the final 2.2 innings as the Razorbacks closed out the Bulldogs for the shutout.
Arkansas is back in action this weekend, opening conference play with a three-game series at Baum Stadium against No. 8 Ole Miss. Arkansas will start freshman righthander Trey Killian (2-1, 0.86) in the opener, opposing Ole Miss junior Bobby Wahl (4-0, 1.99). First pitch on Friday is at 6:35 p.m., followed by games Saturday at 2:05 p.m. and Sunday at 1:05 p.m. The series finale on Sunday will be televised by CST.
For more information regarding Razorback baseball or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.
