FAYETTEVILLE — Kansas State had several opportunities to score the go-ahead run against Arkansas in the final three innings of their game Tuesday at Kauffman Stadium.
The Wildcats put two on with no outs in the top of the eighth; two on with one out in the top of the ninth; and loaded the bases with two outs in the 10th.
But K-State never could produce the timely hit, and stranded seven of its 13 base runners when the game was tied 5-5 after the seventh inning.
"We just kept finding a way to make a pitch," Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. "That's the way the game works; you've got to believe you're going to get through it. The players seemed to stay pretty relaxed."
The tight situation was a familiar one for Arkansas, which won 6-5 when Carson Shaddy scored from third base on a two-out wild pitch in the bottom of the 10th.
The No. 14 Razorbacks (33-10) have been strong in tight games this season. Arkansas improved to 6-1 in games decided by one run, with six consecutive wins since a 4-3 loss to Louisiana Tech on Feb. 28.
"It's been an area of focus for us to win those close games," Arkansas catcher Grant Koch said. "Even if we lose close games early in the season, it's good experience for us at the end of the season."
Arkansas' other one-run wins this season include 3-2 over Rhode Island on March 10; 3-2 over Alcorn State on March 14; 5-4 over Mississippi State on March 18; 9-8 at Missouri on March 26; and 5-4 over Georgia on April 14. The wins over Rhode Island, Mississippi State, Missouri and Georgia all clinched series wins.
The Razorbacks are 2-2 in two-run games and 5-2 record in three-run outcomes. Three of those four losses came when Arkansas was shutout.
A 10-8 loss to LSU on April 8 came after the Razorbacks led by three runs going into the ninth inning, but hit two batters, had a wild pitch and committed two errors in the ninth - including a throwing error with two outs to allow the Tigers to take the lead.
"The key to winning close games is when you don't make a lot of mistakes," Van Horn said. "It's not necessarily about making that spectacular play or that game-saving play, but just throughout a nine-inning game, making the routine play and not giving teams an extra run here and there."