College Baseball

Arkansas baseball team scores 32, misses record

Arkansas second baseman Carson Shaddy (left) celebrates with third baseman Casey Martin after hitting a home run against Bucknell Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018, during the second inning at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- The Arkansas Razorbacks spotted Bucknell a one-run lead then unloaded on the Bison on Saturday, belting six home runs and batting around three times in the first four innings in a 32-4 rout.

The Razorbacks (2-0) broke their school record for runs produced through two games with 45, snapping the previous record of 34 from 1997, before an estimated crowd of 3,853 on a 45-degree day at Baum Stadium.

The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville came up one run shy of the single-game scoring record of 33 set against Southwest Baptist in 1984.

"I know the fans behind our dugout kept talking about it and cheering," Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said of the run-record pursuit. "You have no idea how many runs you're going to score. You're not trying to run it up on anybody."

Senior second baseman Carson Shaddy said the fans made sure the Hogs knew about the record.

"We were obviously having fun in the dugout," said Shaddy, who swatted his second opposite-field home run in as many days. "We were hearing one of the super fans up there ... saying you need one more. We were real happy with what we did today."

Luke Bonfield started the home run showcase with a three-run shot in the first inning off left-hander Jack Grabek (0-1). Dominic Fletcher and Casey Martin also hit three-run home runs, while Jared Gates hit a two-run shot and Grant Koch and Shaddy added solo home runs.

The Razorbacks racked up 22 hits and drew 15 walks for the second consecutive day, forcing six Bison pitchers to throw 240 pitches.

"I just really like the way the lineup is forcing pitchers to really work to get them out," Van Horn said. "That's kind of our thing, to try to wear you down a little bit."

The outburst supported Isaiah Campbell (1-0), who was making his first appearance since undergoing surgery to remove bone spurs last spring. Campbell struggled with his control in the first inning but settled down, allowing a run on 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 7 in 4 innings.

"I'm not going to lie, I was really nervous," Campbell said. "I haven't thrown in a whole year. Getting back in front of the crowd, I had my nerves. After that first batter, just got back to my normal self, settled in and after that I was really good."

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Cody Scroggins and Hunter Milligan, both coming off arm surgeries, threw a scoreless inning apiece for the Razorbacks, who also got an inning from Evan Lee, Zebulon Vermillion and Jacob Kostyshock.

Martin, a freshman, started at third base and went 4 of 6 in the nine hole, with 5 RBI and 3 runs scored. Martin said the hit parade didn't add extra pressure.

"I mean, I just think it helps you carry over to the next at-bat, gives you a little push to do what you want and do what's best for the team," Martin said.

Three Arkansas starters -- Jax Biggers, Heston Kjerstad and Shaddy -- reached base in all of their plate appearances before coming out in the middle innings.

Biggers was 2 for 2 in the leadoff spot, walked twice and scored 3 runs. Kjerstad went 2 for 2 in the six hole, was hit by a pitch 2 times and scored 2 runs.

Shaddy went 2 for 2 with 2 walks and increased his RBI total to a team-leading 8 with a three-run double in the Hogs' seven-run third inning.

"I think it just really showed the work we put in and our approaches were really solid today," Shaddy said of the offensive showing.

Fletcher went 2 for 4, scored 2 runs and drove in a game-high 5 runs with an RBI grounder and a run-producing double to go along with his 13th career home run.

First baseman Jordan McFarland went 2 for 6 and led the Razorbacks with 5 runs scored.

Campbell threw 31 pitches in the first inning and gave up a run-scoring double to JohnPaul Bell as Bucknell took a 1-0 lead.

The advantage stood up until Arkansas cleanup hitter Bonfield launched a three-run home run just over the left-field wall, scoring Biggers and Eric Cole, who had both singled in the first.

Today’s game

ARKANSAS VS. BUCKNELL

WHEN noon today WHERE Baum Stadium, Fayetteville RECORDS Bucknell 0-2; Arkansas 2-0 SERIES RECORD Arkansas leads 4-0 STARTING PITCHERS Bucknell RHP Jack Simpson (1-1, 4.91 ERA); Arkansas RHP Keaton McKinney (6-5, 4.55 ERA in 2016) RADIO Razorback Sports Network. INTERNET SEC Network-Plus SHORT HOPS Hunter Wilson made the day’s top defensive play, a diving overthe-shoulder grab on a soft liner from his second base spot in the eighth inning to rob Benjamin Smith of a hit. … Shortstop Jax Biggers opened both games with infield singles, a bunt on Friday and a nubber to first on Saturday. … Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn put a big push broom to work to move around a light sheet of water on the floor of the dugout an hour before the game.

THE WEEK AHEAD

TODAY Bucknell, noon MONDAY Off TUESDAY Off WEDNESDAY Arizona*, 9 p.m. THURSDAY Off FRIDAY Cal Poly#, 3 p.m. SATURDAY at San Diego State#, 8 p.m. * San Diego, Calif. # Tony Gwynn Legacy, San Diego

Sports on 02/18/2018