Golden Flashes take Game 2 to split doubleheader

Game 2

Kent State 10, Arkansas 4 - Final

The Razorbacks are going to play a Sunday rubber match for the second consecutive weekend after a 10-4 loss to the Golden Flashes.

Austin Havekost earned the win with an impressive 3 2/3-inning relief outing in which he struck out six batters. Isaiah Campbell is the loser for his second straight start after he allowed five runs - four of which were unearned - in 3 2/3 innings.

Kent State out-hit Arkansas 9-7 in the finale.

The teams won't play tomorrow because of weather. Sunday's game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

Kent State 10, Arkansas 4 - End 8th Inning

Jax Biggers walked and scored on a Luke Bonfield flyout. The Razorbacks stranded Casey Martin at third when Heston Kjerstad struck out to end the inning. Kjerstad is a combined 1-for-7 today with three strikeouts.

Zebulon Vermillion will pitch the ninth for Arkansas.

Kent State 10, Arkansas 3 - Middle 8th Inning

Kent State is laying it on now. Caleb Bolden walked in a run, which led to some choice words by Dave Van Horn toward home plate umpire Clint Wheeler.

Jacob Kostyshock then allowed a two-run single by Pavin Parks with two outs in the inning. Barring a major comeback, this series appears headed for a Sunday rubber match.

Kent State 7, Arkansas 3 - Top 8th Inning

The Golden Flashes have added another run in the top of the eighth on a bloop single by Nick Elsen off Arkansas reliever Caleb Bolden.

Elsen hit it real high and Dominic Fletcher had to cover a long distance to try and catch it near the infield dirt because Arkansas' infield was playing close to the plate. Fletcher slid but couldn't come up with the catch, allowing Brad Hamilton to score. Hamilton walked to leadoff the inning and advanced on a wild pitch by reliever Cody Scroggins.

Kent State 6, Arkansas 3 - End 7th Inning

Kent State right-hander Austin Havekost is mowing down Arkansas. He has 6 strikeouts through 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, bringing his season total to 19 strikeouts through 11 1/3 innings.

The Razorbacks went down in order in the seventh. Dominic Fletcher and Casey Opitz had a couple of loud outs on fly balls near the warning track, and Jordan McFarland struck out. Fletcher is just 1-for-7 today in the two games combined.

Cody Scroggins is on to pitch for Arkansas in the eighth. The top of the Razorbacks' order will bat in the bottom of the inning.

Kent State 6, Arkansas 3 - Middle 7th Inning

Kent State put two on with consecutive bloop singles to leadoff the seventh. That forced a pitching change and lefty Matt Cronin replaced Jake Reindl for a left-left matchup.

Cronin struck out the first batter, but a sac fly by Tim DalPorto extended the Golden Flashes' lead to 6-3. Kent State is out-hitting Arkansas 7-5, and of course the Razorbacks have those two errors that led to runs.

The inning ended on a caught stealing by Arkansas catcher Casey Opitz. Kent State has had some success running on him tonight with two stolen bases.

Kent State 5, Arkansas 3 - End 6th Inning

Luke Bonfield led off the sixth with a single, but Heston Kjerstad struck out swinging and Carson Shaddy hit into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Jake Reindl has pitched 2 1/3 hitless innings for Arkansas and is coming back for the seventh.

There is a steady rain that has started to fall, but it appears it is going to move through quickly and the game won't be interrupted.

Kent State 5, Arkansas 3 - End 5th Inning

The Razorbacks wasted a good opportunity in the fifth. Arkansas had two on with no outs after a Jordan McFarland single and Casey Optiz hit by pitch, but McFarland was out at third on a Jax Biggers bunt attempt, and Eric Cole and Casey Martin each struck out to end the inning.

Kent State reliever Austin Havekost has struck out four in 1 2/3 innings. Arkansas reliever Jake Reindl will come back out for the top of the sixth.

Kent State 5, Arkansas 3 - Middle 5th Inning

Kent State chased Isaiah Campbell with two outs in the fourth inning. Campbell allowed five runs, but just one earned on five hits.

Trailing 5-1, the Razorbacks began to mount a comeback in the fourth on an RBI single by Luke Bonfield and an RBI groundout by Heston Kjerstad.

Kent State starter Connor Wollersheim left with an out in the fourth inning. He allowed three earned runs on three hits.

Kent State 3, Arkansas 1 - End 1st Inning

The Golden Flashes roughed up Arkansas starter Isaiah Campbell in the top of the first with two hits and three runs. The inning also was aided by a one-out error from Carson Shaddy.

Pavin Parks' 2-run double opened the scoring and Brad Hamilton followed two batters later with a two-out RBI single.

Arkansas got a run back in the bottom of the inning. Jax Biggers doubled to leadoff. He advanced to third on an opposite-field flyout by Eric Cole and scored on a fielder's choice RBI by Casey Martin.

Kent State is starting a different pitcher than expected in Game 2. Left-hander Connor Wollersheim has a 2.16 ERA in three appearances. This is his first start.

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Game 1

Arkansas 7, Kent State 2 - Final

Jacob Kostyshock got into a little trouble in the ninth, but Arkansas ended the game when Carson Shaddy began a 4-6-3 double play. Kent State stranded one runner in the inning.

Arkansas recorded 10 hits, including three home runs by - one apiece by Grant Koch, Eric Cole and Shaddy. Blaine Knight improved to 3-0 in four starts.

The second game will begin at 6:20 p.m.

Arkansas 7, Kent State 2 - Middle 8th Inning

Kole Ramage nearly got out of a tight situation in the eighth unscathed, but an RBI single by Mason Mamarella gave the Golden Flashes their second run. It was Mamarella's third hit.

Ramage allowed a leadoff single and then moved the runner up twice with consecutive wild pitches. After a mound visit from Wes Johnson, Ramage struck out two consecutive batters and was a strike away from doing the same to Mamarella, who grounded a hard hit ball up the middle.

Arkansas 7, Kent State 1 - End 6th Inning

Arkansas went down in order in the sixth, thanks in part to a great diving catch by Kent State center fielder Mason Mamarella, which robbed Grant Koch of a base hit.

Kole Ramage will take over on the mound in the seventh inning. He replaces Blaine Knight, who is in line for his second win of the season. Knight struck out six batters and allowed four hits. The only run came on the Kent State solo homer in the first inning.

Arkansas 7, Kent State 1 - Bottom 5th Inning

Carson Shaddy went back to his old walk-up song today - "Fire" by Ohio Players. He's on fire today and is 3-for-3 after a first-pitch home run into the bullpen in left field.

Kent State is on its third pitcher of the game, a short left-hander named John Schreiber. The Razorbacks have not hit lefties well this year, but are doing it today.

Arkansas 6, Kent State 1 - End 4th Inning

Kent State wasted a lead-off double in the fourth. Mason Mamarella laced it down the line in right, moved to third on a ground out and was stranded when Knight got the last out on a called third strike against Dalparto.

The Hogs broke it open in the fourth with four runs. The big blow was Eric Cole's three-run homer. Fletcher opened the inning with a double to the gap in left center. Gates moved Fletcher to third with a bouncer to first. Shaddy put down a push bunt to first to score Fletcher and reached on a single when he eluded the first baseman's lunging tag. Biggers followed with another bunt single, reaching without a throw. Cole followed with a drive deep into the Hog pen in left. Casey Martin added a double to the gap in left center, mostly on his legs. That ended the day for Kraus, with righthander Chris Martin taking over on the mound. Bonfield walked before Kjerstad singled to center. Koch popped out to end the frame as the Hogs batted around.

Arkansas 2, Kent State 1 - End 3rd Inning

Knight set down the Golden Flashes in quick fashion in the third. There were two ground outs and a pop to center. Kraus was more efficient in the bottom of the frame. He retired Luke Bonfield and Kjerstad on the first pitch. Koch took the first two pitches, then went down swinging in a four-pitch at bat.

Arkansas 2, Kent State 1 - End 2nd Inning

In the Kent State second, Tim Dalparto made a bid for another homer. Heston Kjerstad caught it leaning against the wall in left. Knight avoided further trouble in a 1-2-3 inning.

The Hogs took the lead when Kjerstad walked and Grant Koch slammed a line drive just inside the foul pole in left. They were the first two batters of the inning. Carson Shaddy singled off the second baseman's glove and stole secon. Jax Biggers and Eric Cole followed with walks to load the bases. Martin popped to second to end the threat.

Kent State 1, Arkansas 0 - End 1st Inning

Senior Nick Kanavas put Kent State on top with a two-out solo homer in the first off UA starter Blaine Knight. Kanavas hit a line drive that rode the 15 mph southwest wind into the Hog pen. It was his first homer.

The Razorbacks got a two-out single by Casey Martin, but did not score. Luke Bonfield fanned against KSU lefty Eli Kraus to end the frame.

Pregame

It is a beautiful day at Baum Stadium with a temperature in the upper 60s and southern winds. The Razorbacks are dressed in their white tops and pants, and red hats for Game 1. Kent State is in blue tops, white pants and a blue hat.

Blaine Knight is on the mound for Arkansas. He will be countered by Kent State lefty Eli Kraus, who has won 18 games since the start of 2016.