Arkansas shuts out Missouri to finish sweep

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Four Arkansas pitchers combined to post a four-hit shutout as the No. 18 Razorbacks completed a two-game midweek sweep of Missouri with a 2-0 win on Wednesday afternoon at Baum Stadium.

Arkansas won its fourth straight game and improved to 33-13 on the season, while Missouri fell to 23-21 with the loss.

Trent Daniel, Michael Gunn, Colby Suggs and Barrett Astin combined to post a four-hit shutout of the Tigers. The shutout was Arkansas' seventh this season, the most in a season since the 1986 pitching staff had eight shutouts. With its performance today, Arkansas lowered its team ERA to an SEC leading 2.61.

Gunn (1-0) picked up the first win of his collegiate career, throwing 1.2 hitless innings out of the bullpen with a strikeout. Astin earned his eighth save of the season, throwing a scoreless ninth inning.

Trent Daniel started for Arkansas and pitched well, but did not receive a decision. Daniel threw a career-long five innings and allowed just two hits, while striking out four.

Suggs also pitched well out of the bullpen. Suggs entered the game with two outs, runners on second and third and got a strikeout to get out of the jam. He finished the game by throwing 1.1 shutout innings.

Missouri reliever Jake Walsh (2-3) took the loss after giving up two runs, both earned, on one hit and striking out two in 1.1 innings.

Matt Reynolds provided the only run-scoring hit in the game with a pinch hit RBI double in the sixth inning. The double extended Reynolds' streak of reaching base to 28 straight games.

Jacob Mahan had a pair of hits for Arkansas at the plate. Jimmy Bosco and Dominic Ficociello each had one hit for the Razorbacks.

Dillon Everett, Jake Ivory, Conner Mach and Andreas Plackis each had one hit to account for Missouri's four hits in the game.

Each offense was quiet until the bottom of the sixth inning, when Arkansas put together a two-run rally. Ficociello reached on an infield single to lead off the inning and then stole second base. With one out, Bo Bigham was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. Reynolds then came off the bench and deposited a double down the left field line, scoring both Ficociello and Bigham to put Arkansas in front 2-0.

Missouri put two runners in scoring position in the seventh, but wasn't able to dent home plate. Eric Garcia drew a leadoff walk. After the next two batters were retired, Garcia stole second. A walk to Brannon Champagne put runners at first and second. The Tigers then executed a double steal with Garcia advancing to third and Champagne moving to second. Suggs got Case Munson to strike out looking to end the threat.

The Tigers would get a hit in both the eighth and ninth innings, but were unable to score a run as Arkansas held on for the 2-0 victory.

Arkansas resumes Southeastern Conference play on Friday as it opens a three-game series against two-time defending national champion and fifth-ranked South Carolina. Game times are set for 7 p.m. on Friday, 12 p.m. on Saturday and 1:05 p.m. on Sunday. The series opener will be televised on ESPNU, while the second game of the series will be televised on ESPN2.

For more information regarding Razorback baseball or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.