By Harold McIlvain II

The Razorback baseball team was just one strike away from taking a lead at the Tempe Super Regional against No. 1 Arizona State.

But it was a offensive rally in the ninth and then again in the 12th inning that lead the Sun Devils to a 7-6 win over Arkansas  at Jim Brock Ballpark.

“It was a very competitive game,” Razorback head coach Dave Van Horn said. “Both teams really gave it their all. I hated that we didn’t find a way to win. But we battled until the end.”

Razorback reliever Jordan Pratt, who pitched two innings while striking out two, allowed his only earned run of the night with two outs and a runner on third base when Sun Devil Drew MacPhee beat out a throw to first, which scored the tying run.

Arkansas center fielder Brett Eibner entered the inning and recorded the last out, finishing his outing by throwing 2.2 innings and striking out two.

But the Houston, Texas, native allowed the game-winning hit in the 12th inning when Arizona State batter Deven Marrero singled home a run to take the first game of the best of three series.

The Razorbacks were shutdown for the last five innings of the game by Sun Devil sophomore Mitchell Lambson, who allowed only one hit and no runs while striking out seven Razorbacks.

“I thought (Brett Eibner) did a good job (out of the bullpen),” Van Horn said. “He gave us a chance, but we just didn’t score. The key to the game was their lefty (Lambson) came in and did a tremendous job on us.”

Arizona State jumped out to an early lead by tagging senior starter Mike Bolsinger with three runs during the first three innings.

But the Arkansas bullpen of Jeremy Heatley and Pratt combined to allow just two earned runs over 5.2 innings and preserved the lead, as they stranded 11 runners on base.

“It was a pretty easy decision,” Van Horn said during a TV interview. “Bolsinger was up around 80 pitches and didn’t have it tonight. Give credit for our team hanging in.”

Arkansas top starter Drew Smyly will take the mound Sunday night at 9 p.m. to try to even the series as the Razorbacks push for another College World Series run.

“Tomorrow is a new game,” Van Horn said. “It’s a best-of-three series, not best-of-one. We have to come out and not make any mistakes.”