FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas first baseman Cullen Gassaway was the hero Friday for the second time in less than a week.
Gassaway's RBI single in the 10th inning scored pinch-runner Eric Cole from second base to give the Razorbacks a 3-2 victory over Western Illinois in front of 1,423 at Baum Stadium.
Today’s game
Arkansas vs. Western Illinois
WHEN 2:05 p.m.
WHERE Baum Stadium
RECORDS Western Illinois 2-9; Arkansas 11-3
SERIES Arkansas leads 7-1
RADIO Razorback Sports Network. Not all games will be carried by affiliates. Check local listings.
INTERNET www.arkansasrazorba…
PITCHING MATCHUP Western Illinois: RHP Joe Mortillaro (0-2, 8.22 ERA), Arkansas: RHP Keaton McKinney (0-0, 6.17 ERA)
SHORT HOPS Tucker Pennell became the 10th Arkansas player to hit a home run this season. The Razorbacks lead the SEC with 20. … Jake Arledge was 1-for-5 and extended his hit streak to five games. He entered the game with a nation-leading .628 on-base percentage. … Arkansas turned two double plays Friday and have 16 this season. … Western Illinois is scheduled to play its first 16 games away from home this season. The Leathernecks are scheduled to travel to Missouri State for two games after their series at Arkansas.
THE WEEK AHEAD
TODAY Western Illinois, 2:05 p.m.
SUNDAY Western Illinois, 1:05 p.m.
MONDAY Off
TUESDAY Grambling State, 6:35 p.m.
WEDNESDAY Grambling State, 3:05 p.m.
THURSDAY Off
FRIDAY at South Carolina, 6 p.m.
Gassaway recorded his second game-winning RBI in three games for No. 14 Arkansas (11-3). He walked with the bases loaded in the ninth inning to give the Razorbacks a win Sunday over Eastern Illinois.
"He's been pretty clutch," Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. "He's kind of a calm and cool guy. He doesn't get all wound up; never gets excited.
"Cullen just missed the pitch before and hit it down the third base line. [On the game-winner] he stayed on it just a little bit longer and squared it up pretty good. It was a really nice at-bat."
Western Illinois (2-9) brought in left-handed pitcher Aaron Michel to face the right-handed hitting Gassaway.
Carson Shaddy was hit by a pitch to leadoff the 10th for the Razorbacks. Cole, who pinch ran, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Clark Eagan.
Hitting fourth, Gassaway has RBI in 10 of the 12 games he has played this season.
"My role this year has been to drive in runs and I've had a lot of opportunities to do that," Gassaway said.
Western Illinois tied the game 2-2 in the ninth inning when Colton Pogue scored on a throwing error by Shaddy. Pogue was walked by Zach Jackson to leadoff the inning then stole second.
Jackson walked three batters in the inning to load the bases, but the Leathernecks stranded them all when Jackson struck out consecutive batters.
"I'm not going to say that was one of his better outings because I know he's capable of a lot more," catcher Tucker Pennell said. "He did enough. He's got good enough stuff to where if his command is not there, he can rely on his other stuff."
The late innings overshadowed a pitcher's duel for much of the game between starters Dominic Taccolini of Arkansas and Western Illinois' Preston Church. Taccolini didn't allow a hit until the seventh inning and Church didn't allow a hit until Pennell's two-run home run into the left field bullpen in the fifth.
The home run, which came with two outs, was the first of Pennell's career and gave the Razorbacks a 2-0 lead.
"He hammered that ball," Van Horn said. "He hit right smack in the middle of that one. When it left the bat, we all knew it was out down there.
"That was the swing of the night until the last one."
The Leathernecks broke up Taccolini's no-hit bid with consecutive singles to leadoff the seventh. Mark Garton got the first hit and scored on a fielder's choice to pull Western Illinois within 2-1.
Taccolini struck out Drue Galassi with a runner in scoring position to end the seventh, ending his outing at 109 pitches.
Taccolini tied a career-high with nine strikeouts and Jackson added five strikeouts in three innings to earn his first victory. They allowed just four hits after Gonzaga recorded 18 hits and embarrassed the Razorbacks' bullpen in a 15-10 victory Wednesday.
"It was just good for us pitchers to go out there and throw strikes, and establish where we want to be," Taccolini said. "On Wednesday we were kind of all over the place. Zach and I just wanted to establish what the goal is."
Sports on 03/12/2016