FAYETTEVILLE — LSU scored two runs in the top of the 10th inning and the Tigers beat Arkansas 5-3 Sunday afternoon at Baum Stadium to win the three-game series.
Ty Ross doubled off Arkansas relief pitcher Chris Oliver to leadoff the 10th inning and scored on a Sean McMullen sacrifice fly to give LSU the go-ahead run. The Tigers added another later in the inning after Mark Laird reached on an infield single, scoring on Raph Rhymes' hit later in the inning.
Replays showed Laird running outside the base path on the play, avoiding the tag by Razorbacks first baseman Dominic Ficociello. Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn argued the call with first base umpire Mike Morris and was ejected.
The Razorbacks had a chance for a rally in the bottom of the inning after Brett McAfee reached with a one-out bunt single to bring the top of the order to the plate, but Arkansas pinch-hit for its top two batters in the lineup - Jacob Mahan and Joe Serrano - with a pair of freshmen who hadn't hit in a SEC game this season. LSU reliever Chris Cotton struck out Isaac Hellbusch and got Jean Ramirez to pop up to second base to end the game.
LSU (34-3, 13-2 SEC) took a 3-1 lead in the top of the third inning on a Laird fielder's choice and two-run home run by freshman shortstop Alex Bregman. The Tigers chased Arkansas starter Randall Fant with the home run, ending the senior left-hander's game after just 2 2/3 innings.
Arkansas had a chance to end the inning before the Tigers struck, but Jordan Farris couldn't cleanly field a potential double-play ball with one out, allowing Alex Edward to advance to third and bring Laird to the plate.
The Razorbacks' bullpen picked up the slack, however, throwing 6 1/3 scoreless innings to close out regulation. Brandon Moore sparked the bullpen with 3 2/3 innings in relief of Fant, while Trent Daniel and Oliver also came out of the bullpen before the ninth inning.
Arkansas pulled within 3-2 on Jordan Farris' solo home run to leadoff the bottom of the third inning and the Razorbacks tied the game on a two-run single by Farris in the bottom of the fourth. Farris, starting his first SEC game, finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Neither team recorded a hit in the fifth through ninth innings in a showcase of the SEC's top two bullpens. Joey Bourgeois pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief for the Tigers, stranding Brian Anderson at third base in the sixth after a leadoff walk.
Arkansas (25-12, 9-6) stranded five runners Sunday, including two at third base.