Bulldogs can't top freshman

ATHENS, Ga. -- Warming up prior to the seventh inning provided seemingly the only moment that didn't go Keaton McKinney's way Friday night.

The Arkansas right-hander's cleat hung on the mound and he twisted his hip, momentarily giving his Razorbacks teammates and coaching staff pause.

After a brief chat and check-up, Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn determined McKinney was alright.

He was more than that. The freshman stayed in the game, finishing with seven scoreless innings as No. 20 Arkansas powered by Georgia 9-0 to even the series at a game apiece.

McKinney improved to 6-1 on the year and has allowed only seven earned runs over his past 40 1/3 innings.

"Just gaining momentum and gaining confidence," he said. "Taking it start by start helps a lot. That's what you have to do when you face these opponents."

Roles reversed from the previous night, when Arkansas (32-20, 16-12 SEC) committed four errors and the Bulldogs (26-27, 10-18) claimed a series-opening 10-1 victory.

On Friday, the Razorbacks looked like the team that entered the weekend still in play for the No. 2 seed in next week's SEC Tournament, finishing with 13 hits and without committing an error.

Razorbacks left fielder Joe Serrano started the game with a leadoff single and third baseman Bobby Wernes followed with a two-run home run over the left-field fence.

"I think that right there set the mood for the day and just gave everybody confidence to have an approach and stick to it," shortstop Michael Bernal said.

Bernal collected a season-high four hits and scored two runs.

"I just tried to stay calm in the box and help my team win," he said.

Georgia looked lost as the Bulldogs finished with six errors, their most in a game since 1997.

"It's contagious. It's crazy how baseball is like that," Georgia Coach Scott Strickin said. "When everything is going great, it seems like the next guy makes the play and the next guy has an at-bat and hits a pitch. When everything is going wrong it's the exact opposite."

Those mistakes led to four unearned Arkansas runs and forced Bulldogs starter Ryan Lawlor out of the game without recording an out in the fourth inning.

Not that Arkansas needed the help.

Five Razorbacks posted at least two hits, including first baseman Cullen Gassaway, who hit a home run in the top of the second inning.

Andrew Benintendi, a contender for national player of the year and the SEC's leading hitter, finished 2 for 5 with 2 RBI.

"We took advantage of some pitches left up in the zone," Van Horn said. "We did a better job offensively. [Thursday] we got behind quick, and it's tough playing from behind."

The winners of five of their past seven games, Arkansas wrapped up the No. 5 seed in next week's SEC Tournament in Hoover, Ala.

"I think things are just starting to pan out for what we were working for," Bernal said. "I think it's good to keep these wins coming."

Georgia enters the final day of the regular season tied with Tennessee for the 12th and final spot in the conference tournament.

The Bulldogs will go with ace Robert Tyler today. Tyler, a sophomore right-hander, missed most of the season with a strained forearm.

"That's what it's all about," Stricklin said. "This league is very demanding. Every game is a big game. We can't worry about what's happened in the past, but yeah, everything comes down to one game. We've got to play our best game on the final day of the year."

SUN BELT

ARKANSAS STATE 4, UALR 3

Arkansas State (25-27, 12-16 Sun Belt) took advantage of two walks, a wild pitch and an error in the bottom of the 14th inning to defeat UALR (15-33, 11-17) on Friday night at Tomlinson Stadium in Jonesboro.

Designated hitter Tanner Ring drew a walk from reliever Cory Malcom (5-4) to lead off the 14th inning for the Red Wolves, moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on an error by second baseman Kyle Kirk that allowed Ty White to reach base.

Ty Michelotti was intentionally walked to load the bases with no outs, and Stuart Levy followed with fly-out to left field that drove in Ring with the winning run.

Levy, Austin Baker, Collin Massanelli and Jeremy Brown all drove in a run for ASU, which left 14 men on base.

Tanner Rockwell and Sam Vogel each drove in a run for UALR, which stranded 13 runners.

Chandler Hawkins, ASU’s third pitcher of the night, struck out 8 and allowed only 3 hits over 6 shutout innings to improve to 4-7 on the season.

SOUTHLAND

CENTRAL ARKANSAS 4,

MCNEESE STATE 2

Freshman left-hander Chris Durham made the most of his first start, pitching eight shutout innings as Central Arkansas (27-21, 16-14 Southland) defeated McNeese State (31-23, 17-12) at Bear Stadium in Conway.

Durham allowed five hits and tied his career high with five strikeouts and improved to 2-0 with some help from junior Bo Stitch, who pitched the ninth inning to earn his team-high fifth save and his second in as many nights.

The Bears remain in sixth place in the SLC with one regular-season game remaining. The Bears and Cowboys will play their series finale at noon today. UCA scored first in the bottom of the first on senior Brad Dillenberger’s RBI single that brought in senior Wesley Hoover. They made it 2-0 in the second on Hoover’s RBI single to center that scored senior Nick Rougeau. In the fifth inning, Hoover hit a one-out triple and scored on junior Chris Townsend’s base hit to right-center.

UCA got its final run in the seventh on Langley’s bunt that scored Matt Anderson.

Sports on 05/16/2015