Oh, what a night: 3 HRs for Spanberger; first no-hitter in tournament history

HOOVER, Ala. -- There wasn't room for Arkansas Razorbacks first baseman Chad Spanberger on the All-SEC teams this week.

There wasn't room for Spanberger inside the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium on Thursday night, either.

On a night when three Razorback pitchers combined for the first no-hitter in SEC Tournament history and Jax Biggers tied a school record with two triples, Spanberger was the standout.

Spanberger belted three home runs, including a grand slam, and drove in seven runs to power No. 13 University of Arkansas, Fayetteville to a 12-0 mercy-rule rout of No. 23 Auburn in an elimination game.

Spanberger became the first player to hit three home runs in the SEC Tournament and the first with seven RBI.

"We came out and wanted to jump on them early," said Spanberger, who has 17 home runs, including six in the past four games.

"We took charge early, and obviously it's because Chad hit a solo homer in the first and a two-run homer in the third and we were off and running, and then in the fourth with the grand slam," Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. "We felt like we were in really good shape there."

Auburn Coach Butch Thompson said Spanberger's home runs came on a fastball, a change-up and a curve.

"It's not what you throw but where you throw it," Thompson said. "I think the first eight runs are all because of Spanberger. He gets all the credit. That's definitely a guy you classify as a don't-let-him-beat-you guy."

Auburn outfielder Daniel Robert said he'd never seen a home run show like Spanberger put on.

"That was impressive," Robert said.

Dominic Taccolini, Matt Cronin and Josh Alberius combined for a seven-inning no-hitter, the school's 13th and the first since 2006.

Cronin (3-0) pitched a season-high three innings to notch the victory.

"I think the pitchers were going out and competing, and we were around the zone for the most part, although we walked quite a few," Cronin said.

Van Horn said he first took note of the no-hitter in the fourth, then in the sixth inning, when the senior Alberius came in.

"We're thinking, hey, this would be kind of neat," Van Horn said.

Arkansas (40-16) advanced to tonight's late game to face the loser of Florida vs. Mississippi State in an elimination game.

Auburn (35-24), which won a home series against the Razorbacks earlier this year, went 1-2 in Hoover.

"That was about as complete a ballgame as I've seen against us in my time here," Thompson said. "The grand slam was the dagger. and I didn't see us respond after that."

Spanberger was left off the two All-SEC teams voted on by conference coaches behind league player of the year Brent Rooker of Mississippi State and LSU's Greg Deichmann.

"Yeah, they deserved it of course," Spanberger said. "But I mean, there's a personal little burn there, to come out and show you're just as good as them."

Spanberger homered in his first three plate appearances and came to bat in the fifth with runners on second and third and an opportunity to hit a home run "cycle" when Thompson called for an intentional walk to load the bases. The fans responded with loud booing. Luke Bonfield followed with a walk to force in a run for an 11-0 Arkansas lead.

In the seventh, Spanberger had another shot at the home run cycle, but he grounded into a fielder's choice with runners on first and second and nobody out.

Biggers became the first Razorback since Bobby Wernes to hit two triples in a game and Jake Arledge had a 3 for 4 night to help Spanberger pace Arkansas' 14-hit attack.