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SEC BASEBALL : 9th-inning flub costs Arkansas Published: Monday, April 21, 2008 PRINT E-MAIL FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas finished the weekend with its second consecutive SEC series victory, but the Razorbacks were in no mood to celebrate. Far from it. Tennessee won 7-6 in 10 innings Sunday after Arkansas wasted a chance to win the game and earn a series sweep in the ninth inning. The Razorbacks scored twice to tie and had the bases loaded with no outs in the ninth with No. 3 hitter Logan Forsythe at the plate. Forsythe grounded sharply to shortstop Cody Grisham, who threw home for the forceout. The second out came on the same play when Tennessee catcher Blake Forsythe, Logan’s younger brother, threw out Chase Leavitt trying to advance to third base. The threat then died when Aaron Murphree grounded out to force extra innings. Cody Brown put Tennessee ahead again with a one-out double in the 10 th and the Volunteers held on behind two scoreless innings from reliever Steve Crnkovich. Arkansas put two runners on base in the bottom of the 10 th before Crnkovich got Ryan Cisterna on a grounder to end the game.
The victory enabled Tennessee (23-16, 10-8 ) to grab one victory in the series while outhitting Arkansas 40-24 in the three games. The Razorbacks (22-17, 7-10 ) won the first two games 5-4. “It didn’t look good for us in the ninth when Arkansas had the bases loaded and no outs,” Tennessee Coach Todd Raleigh said. “We were down to our last pitcher, basically, and they had their No. 3 hitter coming up. Somehow, we managed to get out of it” Arkansas claimed its second consecutive series victory, but the Razorbacks left the field frustrated Sunday after failing to complete the sweep. Tim Smalling led off the ninth with a sharp single and the Razorbacks received plenty of help from Tennessee pitchers, who walked two and hit two batters in the ninth. Most of the announced crowd of 6, 948 rose to its feet with Forsythe at the plate, but the fans returned to their seats quickly after the unusual double play that ended with Leavitt being thrown out a third. “We battle, but right now, we don’t finish a lot of games,” Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. “We had an opportunity to win it there in the ninth but we didn’t, and that’s disappointing. Leavitt couldn’t tell if the pitcher was going to catch a line drive [off Forsythe’s bat ], so he started moving back to the base. Then he had to run and just locked up.” The Razorbacks have been plagued by injuries but are back in the race for an SEC Tournament berth. “Guys have filled in adequately and given us a chance,” Van Horn said. “But we’re hoping to get everybody back from injuries and survive and get better.” Yan Gomes had four hits for Tennessee, which outhit Arkansas 17-8. Leavitt and Smalling each had two hits and Jeff Nutt two RBI on a single and sacrifice fly. 2 Cliff Springston pitched 6 / 3 innings before being relieved by Shaun Seibert, who allowed a home run by Cody Grisham to put Tennessee ahead 5-4 in the eighth. Seibert and Kendall Korbal each lasted less than an inning before Stephen Richards entered the game. Richards allowed five hits in 2 2 / 3 innings and he wasn’t sharp after 2 pitching 2 / 3 innings on Friday. Tennessee used five pitchers and Crnkovich got the victory by holding Arkansas to one hit in two innings. THE WEEK AHEAD TODAY off TUESDAY vs. Northern Colorado 6: 35 p.m. WEDNESDAY vs. No. Colorado 1: 05 p.m. THURSDAY off FRIDAY at Ole Miss 6: 30 p.m. SATURDAY at Ole Miss 4 p.m. SUNDAY at Ole Miss 1 p.m. More Stories From: RICK FIRES · Second day sends Springston home · San Diego chooses UA third baseman · Hogs plan to host 5-team tournament · Hogs want to avoid major draft hit Yesterday's Most Popular 1. Pelphrey expects Monk to join team 2. Pelphrey: Early signees fill Razorbacks’ needs 3. Neck and neck : Brothers split snaps at quarterback in Tuesday practice 4. ARKANSAS AT MISSISSIPPI STATE : Brother vs. brother 5. Hogs’ signees pass eye test, coach says Today's Most E-mailed 1. LIKE IT IS : Arkansas made right choice in hiring Petrino 3. Razorbacks face Princeton clone 4. Richardson, 6 others to be inducted into College Basketball Hall of Fame 5. ARKANSAS AT MISSISSIPPI STATE : Hogs work to regain ‘physicality’ |
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