Arkansas 16, Memphis 7 - FINAL
The Razorbacks bounced back from a rough start for another strong win. Arkansas is 30-8 overall ahead of tomorrow's game in North Little Rock.
Arkansas 16, Memphis 7 - End 8th Inning
The game has been humming along pretty quick since that big sixth. Both teams have gone down quickly in the two innings since, although Luke Bonfield did reach on another catcher's interference in the eighth. That was his second such play of the night and sixth this year.
The inning ended when pinch-hitter Alex Gosser lined out to center field and Bonfield was thrown out trying to get back to first base.
Angus Denton, a freshman right-hander is in to pitch the ninth.
Arkansas 16, Memphis 7 - End 6th Inning
The Razorbacks broke the game open with a five-run sixth. Luke Bonfield and Grant Koch added RBI in the inning.
Evan Lee is now the pitch for the Razorbacks. I'd suspect he'll have a chance to go a while.
Arkansas 13, Memphis 7 - Bottom 6th Inning
The Razorbacks have added two more runs in the sixth. Jax Biggers' single scored Carson Shaddy, who reached on a leadoff walk. Then Arkansas loaded the bases with one out and Chad Spanberger was hit by a pitch to bring home Eric Cole, who singled.
Arkansas 11, Memphis 7 - End 5th Inning
The fifth ended on a play at the plate that was upheld upon replay review. Jared Gates singled and Luke Bonfield came home from second base, but he was out on a tag by catcher Jason Santana. The play was reviewed for several minutes, but it appeared from my vantage point that Bonfield missed the plate when he slid, otherwise he would have been safe under the tag of Santana.
That ended an impressive showing by the Arkansas batters, who got on base in five consecutive two-out at-bats. The Razorbacks put seven on in the inning.
Arkansas 11, Memphis 7 - Bottom 5th Inning
This has been a big fifth inning for both teams. The Razorbacks have responded well to the Tigers' four-run fifth with four runs of their own. Chad Spanberger's two-run double scored Fletcher and Jake Arledge, who reached with a two-out single past the third baseman. Spanberger's hit went to the wall in left-center field.
Spanberger scored when Luke Bonfield followed with a two-out single up the middle. This Arkansas offense is something to behold when it is on.
Arkansas 8, Memphis 7 - Bottom 5th Inning
Dominic Fletcher is having a monster night for Arkansas and he's one hit shy of the cycle. His RBI single has given the Razorbacks the lead again. It scored Carson Shaddy, who reached on a leadoff triple.
Fletcher is 3-for-3 tonight with 4 RBI. He is a home run shy of the cycle. And remember his one-out double kick-started Arkansas' three-run second inning that tied the game.
Arkansas 7, Memphis 7 - Top 5th Inning
Jake Reindl had looked strong in several previous outings for Arkansas, but not tonight. Reindl followed the leadoff home run by loading the bases on a single, a fielder's choice and a hit batsman with two outs.
Matt Cronin, a freshman left-hander, gave up a three-run double to Zach Schritenthal to tie the game. It was the second pitch of the at-bat for Cronin, who like Reindl has looked good in several previous outings.
Arkansas 7, Memphis 4 - Top 5th Inning
All of Memphis' runs tonight have come on home runs. Tyler Webb's leadoff home run in the fifth has given the Tigers some life. The hit came off Jake Reindl and easily cleared the wall in left-center field. The Arkansas fans in the Hog Pen threw it back.
Arkansas 7, Memphis 3 - Middle 4th Inning
Barrett Loseke walked two batters in eight pitches to leadoff the fourth and left the game. Jake Reindl entered the game and did a nice job with two on, but did a nice job of getting out of the inning without allowing a run.
Reindl has been impressive his last several outings. I'm a little surprised to see him tonight, but I guess this won't be much more than a glorified bullpen session. He is turning into an important weekend arm for this team.
Arkansas 7, Memphis 3 - Bottom 3rd Inning
The best at-bat of Dominic Fletcher's career has given Arkansas the lead here in the third. With the bases loaded, Fletcher fouled off the first six pitches before lining a three-run triple down the right field line. He scored in the next at-bat when Jax Biggers singled to right field. All five base runners in this inning have come with one out.
Biggers' hit chased Memphis starter Jonathan Bowlan, who exits having given up seven runs on six hits. Biggers is his responsibility. Left-hander Taylor Bobo is on the mound for Memphis.
Arkansas 3, Memphis 3 - End 2nd Inning
The Razorbacks have matched Memphis' big first inning with a three-run second. Jake Arledge advanced to third on a wild pitch by Jonathan Bowlan and scored on a fielder's choice RBI by Chad Spanberger, who did a nice job of hitting to right side of the infield to keep the ball away from Arledge.
Memphis 3, Arkansas 2 - Bottom 2nd Inning
The Razorbacks are having a strong second inning and are on the board. Dominic Fletcher, Jax Biggers and Jake Arledge all have consecutive one-out hits, including doubles for Fletcher and Arledge, who had 2 RBI. Arledge's hit went to the left field wall when Memphis outfielder Colton Neel overran the ball a little. That allowed Biggers to score standing up from first base.
Memphis 3, Arkansas 0 - End 1st Inning
The Razorbacks threatened to strike back quickly with a Chad Spanberger single, Luke Bonfield reaching on a catcher's interference and walk to Jared Gates, but Carson Shaddy struck out to end the inning.
It appears Arkansas probably will be able to put up some runs against this Memphis starter, Jonathan Bowlan, a right-hander who enters the game with a 3-4 record and 4.15 ERA.
Memphis 3, Arkansas 0 - Top 1st Inning
Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn indicated Monday that tonight could be an audition for Barrett Loseke to become a weekend starter, but Loseke hasn't helped himself in the first inning. A walk, a nice two-out hit by Alec Trela and a three-run home run by Andy Bowman has given Memphis a nice cushion.
Bowman's home run cleared the 400-foot wall in center field.
It's a warm night in Fayetteville with a slight wind blowing in from right field. There aren't a lot of people here relative to what I thought there might be. Perhaps it will be a late arriving crowd.