Arkansas 7, Alabama 3, Final
Jake Reindl struck out two looking during a 1-2-3 ninth inning, and the Razorbacks have improved to 5-2 in SEC openers.
This probably was one of Arkansas' best all-around performances this season. The Razorbacks had as many runs and runners stranded, hit three home runs and made several great defensive plays. Alabama had only six hits and Arkansas pitching had 10 strikeouts.
Blaine Knight earned the win with a six-inning outing and Jake Reindl picked up his third save. Alabama starter Sam Finnerty fell to 2-6.
The Crimson Tide have lost six consecutive SEC games. Arkansas moved back into a half-game lead in the SEC West by virtue of its win and LSU's 5-2 win over Ole Miss.
Arkansas 7, Alabama 3, End 8th Inning
Jake Reindl fanned Chandler Avant and Sam Praytor to start the inning. Heston Kjerstad chased down Joe Breaux' drive on the warning track in left near the foul pole.
Eric Cole made a bid for his second homer of the night. In an 11-pitch at bat, he drove left fielder Keith Holcombe to the wall.
Arkansas 7, Alabama 3, End of 7th Inning
The Tide threatened but didn't score in the 7th thanks to some nice plays by the middle infieders. Keith Holcombe singled up the middle. Casey Martin got to the ball, but it bounced off his glove. Kyle Kaufman bounced into a double play. Jax Biggers went to his right at short and Martin made a nice pivot at second. Jett Manning bounced one off the bag at first. Jordan McFarland had it bounce off his chest. It was ruled a single. Cobbie Vance looped a single into center, just beyond the glove of Biggers. The frame came to an end with Martin's diving scoop and throw to get Chandler Taylor at first.
Lefty Dylan Duarte relieved for Alabama. Evan Lee advanced to second on a throwing error by the shortstop. Dominic Fletcher beat out a bunt. The throw bounced away from the first baseman, with Lee trying to score from second. The second baseman's throw nailed him at the plate. Jordan McFarland reached on a fielder's choice, Fletcher out at second. Grant Koch walked. Jax Biggers left two runners with a soft pop to shortstop.
Attendance is 9,568.
Arkansas 7, Alabama 3, End of 6th Inning
Dominic Fletcher flashed with some brilliant defense with a diving catch in center for the second out of the sixth, robbing Joe Breaux. It was part of a 1-2-3 inning. Knight has thrown 101 pitches and is done for the night. Jake Reindl will pitch the seventh.
Eric Cole claimed the team home run lead with a two-run shot to right. It was his 10th. Jax Biggers had walked in front of him. Cole's liner landed in the Tide's bull pen. Heston Kjerstad made a bid for back-to-back homers. He hit a towering fly that was caught on the warning track in dead center.
Arkansas 5, Alabama 3, End 5th Inning
The Tide got one back in the fith. Kyle Kaufman doubled to Jack Kenley's left at third. Jeff Manning singled to the other side of Kenley. Kaufman held at third. Cobbie Vance lined out to right for a sacrifice fly, scoring Kaufman. Eric Cole's throw was just off line or there might have been a play at the plate. Manning stole second. He was originally called out on a swipe tag by Jax Biggers, but the replay showed that he missed Manning's hand. Chandler Taylor popped up in foul territory, but Kenley could not find the ball. The ball dropped between Kenley and Grant Koch. Taylor then flied out to left. Chandler Avant lined out to second to end the threat.
Casey Martin homered to left center to lead off the bottom of the fifth. He has nine homers, tied for the team lead with Eric Cole, Carson Shaddy and Heston Kjerstad. Dominic Fletcher doubled off the wall in right, missing a homer by one foot. Jared Gates hit a bouncer to the pitcher. Fletcher was caught in a run down, but gave Gates enough time to get to second before getting tagged out. Jordan McFarland replaced Gates at second as a pinch runner. Grant Koch bounced out to third.
Arkansas 4, Alabama 2, End 4th Inning
Alabama walked and appeared to have been hit by a pitch with two outs, but the hit batter was called back for not trying to get out of the way. He lined out a couple of pitches later to end the inning.
Blaine Knight has dealt with some command issues with three walks, but he has given up just one hit and has struck out five through four innings. His pitch count is 71.
Arkansas threatened in the bottom of the inning. Jax Biggers singled to center. Jack Kenley followed with a hit-and-run single. They were stranded when Heston Kjerstad hit a deep fly to left center.
Arkansas 4, Alabama 2, End 3rd Inning
Jett Manning walked to lead off the Alabama third. Cobie Vance hit a fly to deep right that advanced Manning to second. Chandler Taylor and Chandler Avant were both out on a short fly balls to center.
The Hogs regained the lead in the bottom of the frame. Heston Kjerstad stroked a double inside the line at first base. Casey Martin popped out to shallow right. Kjerstad moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Evan Lee's sacrifice fly to left field. Dominic Fletcher hit a line drive homer -- his fifth -- over the Alabama bullpen. Jared Gates bounced out to first. The Hogs lead in hits, 5-1.
Arkansas 2, Alabama 2, End 2nd Inning
Sam Prayton walked to lead off the Alabama second and Joe Breaux followed with a fly ball into the Alabama bull pen in right field for his first homer. The wind is blowing out to right. That prompted a trip to the mound to visit with Blaine Knight by Arkansas pitching coach Wes Johnson. Hunter Alexander was out on a deep fly to left. Keith Holcombe bounced out to second. Kyle Kaufman was out on strikes.
The Arkansas second started with a pair of ground outs to second by Jax Biggers and Jack Kenley. Eric Cole popped out to left field.
Arkansas 2, Alabama 0, End 1st Inning
Blaine Knight retired the Tide in order in the first with two strikeouts. Chandler Avant drove left fielder Heston Kjerstad to the warning track for a fly ball out to end the top of the first.
The Hogs opened with their bats on fire. The first four reached base with two runs scored. Eric Cole singled to center. Heston Kjerstad singled to the gap in right center, with Cole moving to third. Kjerstad went to second on the throw. Casey Martin beat out an infield single to short with Cole scoring. Evan Lee hit a bouncer to second that scored Kjerstad and the second baseman booted what could have been a double play. Dominic Fletcher popped out to center for the first out. Jared Gates reached on a fielder's choice grounder to short with Lee forced at second, Lee moving to third. Grant Koch was out on a deep fly to center to end the first.
Pregame
It is a picture-perfect evening for baseball in Fayetteville, with temperatures in the upper 60s and a sun-splashed outfield as the game time nears. That might create for some tough fielding conditions the first two or three innings, especially for the left fielder and left side of the infield.
Arkansas has shifted its lineup a little tonight to compensate for Carson Shaddy's hand injury, which is forcing him to miss his third consecutive game. Freshman Casey Martin, a natural middle infielder who has played mostly third base this season out of necessity, will start for Shaddy at second base, and Jack Kenley replaces Martin at third.
Eric Cole will hit leadoff for the second consecutive game and Heston Kjerstad will bat second. Jared Gates is getting the start at first base and Evan Lee at designated hitter as Dave Van Horn puts several left-handed bats in the lineup to face Alabama right-hander Sam Finnerty (4-2, 4.09 ERA).
Christopher Griffith is the home plate umpire. He is accompanied by David Savage at first, Michael Phillips at second and Myron Miller at third.
The first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
It is Johnny Ray Night at the ballpark and several hundred fans received a Ray jersey T-shirt before the game. Ray was a two-time All-America second baseman at Arkansas in the late 1970s and later played 10 MLB seasons with the Pirates and Angels.