Matt Jones is the online sports editor for the Arkansas-Democrat-Gazette and Northwest Arkansas Newspapers.
Diamond Hogs sweep Aztecs with 4-1 win
By:
Matt Jones
Published: Saturday, March 9, 2013
Photo by Andy Shupe
Arkansas center fielder Tyler Spoon (8) is congratulated at the plate by right fielder Brian Anderson after Spoon's solo home run Saturday, March 9, 2013, during the fifth inning of play at Baum Stadium.
FAYETTEVILLE — Randall Fant pitched six scoreless innings and Arkansas used a four-run seventh to beat San Diego State 4-1 in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday at Baum Stadium.
The Razorbacks (11-5) bounced back from a disappointing four-game losing streak in Surprise, Ariz. last weekend by sweeping the four-game series against the Aztecs. Arkansas beat San Diego State 8-2 in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader to give coach Dave Van Horn his 1,000th career win.
Pitchers Randall Fant and Ethan Miller locked into a duel for six innings in the second game and the teams were scoreless heading to the seventh. After Michael Gunn retired all three batters he faced in the top of the inning, Arkansas broke the scoreless tie with an Eric Fisher RBI single off relief pitcher Bubba Derby to score Gunn, who led off the inning with his second single of the game.
Jacob Morris, who was batting .125 coming into the game, followed with a two-run triple to increase the lead to 3-0 and he scored on a safety squeeze by Brett McAfee in the the next at-bat.
Barrett Astin pitched the final two innings for the Razorbacks, allowing one run on three hits. After working a scoreless eighth, the right-hander surrendered a run in the ninth, but got a game-ending double play to strand a runner at third.
Derby suffered the loss for the Aztecs (7-9) by allowing four runs in 1 2/3 innings.
