FAYETTEVILLE — Dominic Fletcher continued his brilliant play at the plate and in the field to help No. 7 Arkansas pull away from Alabama, 7-3, in their series opener Friday at Baum Stadium.
Fletcher homered, doubled and added a bunt single to lead an 11-hit Arkansas attack. Eric Cole and Casey Martin also homered as the Hogs improved to 30-13 overall and 11-8 in the SEC.
Fletcher made a diving catch moving to his left, a play that coach Dave Van Horn sees about “every other game” from the sophomore center fielder.
“Dom is the best center fielder in college baseball,” said Blaine Knight, the Arkansas starter.
Knight (7-0) gave up three runs in six innings and threw 101 pitches. He allowed a two-run homer to Joe Breaux in the second inning that tied the score 2-2.
“I was very average, honestly,” Knight said. “I didn't locate the ball. The guy had a tight zone, but me walking three is not common.”
Van Horn said both Knight and Alabama starter Sam Finnerty (4-3) didn't like the strike zone of home plate umpire Christopher Griffith.
"You have to figure it out and pitch to it," Van Horn said. "It got the pitch count up for both starters. Fortunately, we got the two-run homer before they went to the pen, because the lefty (Dylan Duarte) held us down pretty good.”
Cole homered to score two in the sixth. Jax Biggers had worked a 3-2 walk after falling behind in a 1-2 count against Finnerty.
Duarte relieved Finnerty to start the seventh and allowed one hit in two innings.
Jake Reindl recorded his third save of the season with three shutout innings. The Hogs did not have regular closer Matt Cronin available. He's not on the weekend roster with fears that he has mononucleosis. A full diagnosis will be available on Monday.
Reindl worked out of a jam in the sixth, thanks to a double play turned by Biggers and Martin. Then, with two on, Martin went far to his left at second base to snare a hard bouncer by Alabama power hitter Chandler Taylor.
“It was a pretty well played game,” Van Horn said. “We got a big double play in the seventh. Casey did a good job turning it and then made a good play to his left. And, by the way, he hit one 400 feet, so he had a good game.”
Martin, who played second base in place of Carson Shaddy, was back in the lineup after sitting out Tuesday night's game against Texas Tech with a hip flexor.
“I guess he's OK,” Van Horn said. “He beat out one ball for a single.”
The Hogs were solid throughout the game on defense. Left fielder Heston Kjerstad tracked down two drives, including one in the corner on a well-hit ball by Breaux to end the eighth inning.
“We made all the plays,” Van Horn said. “We've been playing good defense for awhile. Our fielding percentage has climbed to the middle of the pack. We are fielding .974 and that's not bad.”
Knight said he wasn't worried about the defense when the Hogs were in the bottom of the league in fielding three weeks ago.
“Every team has a slow start in something,” he said. “I knew it would turn around.”
Alabama (23-21, 5-14) had just six hits and committed two errors. The Crimson Tide have lost six consecutive SEC games.