Hogs Earn Midweek Win
Seven Arkansas pitchers combined to allow just one hit and the No. 21 Razorbacks defeated Oral Roberts 6-1 on Tuesday evening in front of 3,184 fans at Baum Stadium.
Senior shortstop Tim Carver led the Hogs to the win with two home runs. Junior designated hitter Jacob Mahan also had two hits and two RBIs.
“These last few games have been fun,” Carver said. “The spirits are starting to get higher and higher, so as long as it keeps going and we keep on building off that it’s huge.”
Freshman third baseman Jose Trevino was the only player to with a hit for the Golden Eagles.
Carver’s first home run of the season opened the game for Arkansas in the bottom of the first inning. The last time a Razorbacks player hit a home run to lead off the game was Collin Kuhn on June 4, 2010.
“I don’t really want him to hit home runs to be honest with you, but I will take them tonight,” coach Dave Van Horn said. “I’ve never seen him hit a ball that far. He’s a lot bigger and stronger than he was last year, and he’s maintained his strength. That’s one reason he’s having such a good year.”
Senior designated hitter Sam Bates walked to start the second inning, then advanced to third when senior second baseman Bo Bigham singled through the right side of the infield. Bates scored on an RBI single from junior center fielder Jacob Morris, giving the Hogs a 2-0 lead.
Carver’s second home run in the fourth put Arkansas ahead 3-0.
“It’s not really my job to do that,” Carver said. “I wasn’t trying to do that. I was just trying to stay through the middle of the field and get a base hit.”
Senior third baseman Matt Reynolds gave the Hogs a 4-0 lead after singling to left field and advanced home on an RBI double from junior left fielder Derek Bleeker in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Arkansas stretched the lead to 6-0 when Morris and sophomore catcher Jacob Wise scored on a two-run single from Mahan in the seventh.
Oral Roberts scored its only run in the top of the ninth when redshirt senior first baseman Jared Schlehuber’s groundout to first base allowed junior shortstop Nate Goro to score.
Redshirt junior Trent Daniel started for the Hogs on the mound Tuesday, his first start in nine appearances this seasons. The left-hander struck out five while allowing no runs or hits in three innings.
“I felt like I had pretty good command of three pitches,” Daniel said. “Keep them off balance for a little bit, and everything was down in the zone for the most part.”
Out of the bullpen, sophomore right-hander Nolan Sanburn relieved Daniel for two innings, striking out two and walking two, while allowing no hits or runs.
Sophomore right-hander Brandon Moore and junior left-hander Tyler Wright pitched one inning each. They allowed no hits or runs,and Wright struck out all three batters he faced.
Sophomore right-hander Colby Suggs started the eighth on the mound, but was relieved shortly after by freshman lefty Michael Gunn. Both struck out one and gave up no hits or runs.
“I was real impressed with Gunn coming in,” Van Horn said, “because we were trying to put him in a situation where it’s a left-handed hitter, and I wanted him to feel like he needed to get this guy. He did a great job.”
Sophomore right-hander Barrett Astin closed the game for the Hogs, striking out one, walking one and allowing the Golden Eagles’ lone hit and run.
