Razorbacks fielders are doubly effective

Arkansas first baseman Clark Eagan attempts to tag a base runner during the fourth inning of a game Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015, at Stanky Field in Mobile, Ala.

MOBILE, Ala. -- Solid defense and a three-run fourth inning aided Arkansas on Saturday night as the Razorbacks defeated South Alabama 7-0 on the second day of the Jaguars' three-day round-robin tournament at Eddie Stanky Field.

The Hogs (4-1), who dropped a 9-5 decision Friday night to No. 22 Central Florida, bounced back Saturday with solid play in all phases of the game to hand South Alabama (4-2) its second loss in a row.

Today’s game

ARKANSAS VS. NO. 16 MARYLAND

WHAT South Alabama Tournament

WHEN 10 a.m. Central

WHERE Stanky Field, Mobile, Ala.

RECORDS Arkansas 4-1; Maryland 4-1

PITCHING MATCHUP Arkansas: TBA; Maryland: Brian Shaffer (RHP, 0-0. 0.00 ERA)

RADIO Razorback Sports Network. Not all games will be carried by affiliates. Check local listings.

INTERNET arkansasrazorbacks.…

THE WEEK AHEAD

TODAY vs. Maryland, 10 a.m.

MONDAY Off

TUESDAY Off

WEDNESDAY Off

THURSDAY California, 3:05 p.m.

FRIDAY California, 3:05 p.m.

SATURDAY California, 11 a.m.

Arkansas' defense produced five double plays in the first six innings and didn't allow the Jags' offense to get anything going. The NCAA record for double plays in a game by a single team is seven, accomplished five times, most recently by Long Beach State in 2003. The Hogs also played another error-free game and have one error -- on a catcher interference play -- in their five games this season.

Arkansas' leadoff batter reached base safely in six of the first seven innings. The Razorbacks produced 14 total hits and scored four of their seven runs in the final three innings.

"For the most part we made plays and we pieced together some good innings, and things went well for us from about the fourth inning on, but there were some times early where it could have gotten away from us," Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. "The pitchers made just enough pitches, and we turned a couple of nice double plays. ... I was really proud of the way we played tonight after last night's game."

A three-run fourth inning gave the Razorbacks a spark. Chad Spanberger delivered a one-out single to right that was followed by Tyler Spoon's single. Rick Nomura drove Spanberger home with a double down the first-base line, and Spoon scored on a groundout to second by Brett McAfee. Nomura scored on a single by Bobby Wernes to close out the scoring in the inning.

In the seventh, Joe Serrano led off with a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Andrew Benintendi, advanced to third after tagging up on Cullen Gassaway's pop-out to right and scored on a passed ball.

Arkansas scored two more runs in the eighth. McAfee's one-out infield single was followed by Wernes' single to left. Carson Shaddy's single to right was mishandled by South Alabama right fielder Cole Gleason, chasing home McAfee and Wernes.

Benintendi opened the ninth with a single up the middle, stole second and moved to third when South Alabama catcher Jared Barnes threw the ball into center field on the steal. Benintendi scored on a double to left-center by Spoon, his third hit of the game.

" I think we did a good job of picking each other up," Spoon said of Arkansas' offensive performance. "We were able to put together a three-run inning and that kind of got us going, and toward the end of the game we kept stringing hits together."

Jackson Lowery, who came on in relief of starter Zach Jackson, picked up the victory for the Razorbacks. Lance Phillips pitched two innings and Parker Sanburn pitched the ninth.

"We got five hits tonight and hit another seven on the nose," South Alabama Coach Mark Calvi said. "We walked nine times and we had our leadoff man on six or seven times out of nine. We had our opportunities."

Arkansas closes out the tournament with a 10 a.m. game today against No. 16 Maryland (4-1), which lost 7-6 to Central Florida on Saturday night.

SUN BELT CONFERENCE

ASU 4-8, LOUISVILLE 1-14

Arkansas State (4-2) won the first game of a doubleheader against No. 12 Louisville to clinch a series victory Saturday, but the Cardinals (3-3) avoided the three-game sweep with victory in the finale at Perfect Game Park South in Emerson, Ga.

Zach George and Jeremy Brown both went 2 for 3 and Tanner Ring hit a home run as ASU outhit Louisville 8-4. Ty White drove in two runs for the Red Wolves. ASU’s Austin Baker was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI and 1 run scored in the second game, while George was 3 for 5 with 2 RBI and Matt Burgess was 2 for 4 with 1 RBI and 1 run scored.

MISSOURI STATE 17, UALR 4

Missouri State (4-1) had 14 hits and 17 runs over the final four innings Saturday evening to defeat UALR (1-4) at QT Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Eric Cheray had three singles and scored four runs for Missouri State, which finished with 15 hits and drew 12 walks off seven UALR pitchers.

Starter Matt Hall (2-0) allowed 3 runs on 8 hits over 7 victories to pick up the victory. Sam Thoele (0-2) took the loss for UALR, giving up four runs — all earned — on three hits. Tanner Rockwell went 4 for 4 with 2 RBI and 1 run scored to lead UALR’s offense, which had nine hits.

Sports on 02/22/2015