Florida 17, Arkansas 2 - Final
Arkansas suffered its worst defeat of the year and it was never close. The Gators' grand slam in the fifth at-bat of the game predicted a long day at the park for the Razorbacks, who were outhit 15-8, committed two errors and stranded 11 base runners.
This is the most lopsided SEC loss Arkansas has had since a 27-6 loss to LSU in 1998. The 15-run loss is the most lopsided under Dave Van Horn, eclipsing multiple 13-run losses, most recently at Auburn last April.
The big story today is that Isaiah Campbell was not strong for the third time in four starts, and had probably his worst outing as a Razorback. He allowed more runs (6), earned runs (5), walks (4) and hits (4) than he had outs (3).
Jacob Kostyshock and Zebulon Vermillion was battered a bit, but they saved the best arms for tomorrow's rubber match. Expect Kacey Murphy to start that game for Arkansas. He has been lights out for the better part of a year, including last May when he pitched a complete game in the Hogs' 16-0 win over the Gators at the SEC Tournament.
There were plenty of offensive stars today for the Gators. Among them: leadoff hitter Deacon Liput was 4-for-5 with 3 RBI and also walked. Jonathan India had two hits and drew two walks, and had the game's biggest highlight with his first-inning grand slam.
Grant Koch was responsible for Arkansas' only runs with his two-out, two-run home run in the fourth.
Heston Kjerstad continued to swing the bat well with a 2-for-4 day - his third consecutive multi-hit game. Jordan McFarland extended his hit streak to 10 games.
Arkansas suffered its first SEC loss and is now 17-6 overall. The Gators improved to 20-5 and 3-2 in SEC games.
Tomorrow's game begins at 11 a.m. and will be televised by SEC Network.
Florida 17, Arkansas 2 - Middle 7th Inning
The Razorbacks stranded two against Florida reliever Kirby McMullen. Jax Biggers was ruled out at first on a hit to the infield, but the ruling was overruled on replay. Eric Cole followed with a single, but the inning ended when Casey Martin and Luke Bonfield each flied out.
Florida starter Jackson Kowar overcame some early command issues to throw six innings. He allowed two runs on four hits. He also walked four and struck out six, and is in line for his fourth win.
Florida 17, Arkansas 2 - End 6th Inning
The Gators batted around for the second time today, plating five runs in the sixth. Deacon Liput and Nelson Maldonado each had RBI hits off Zebulon Vermillion after he entered the game with two outs. Two of those runs were charged to Jacob Kostyshock, the innings eater after starter Isaiah Campbell and reliever Caleb Bolden pitched a combined two innings.
Florida is outhitting Arkansas 14-4 today. The Razorbacks have committed two errors.
Florida 14, Arkansas 2 - Bottom 6th Inning
Jacob Kostyshock has run out of gas in the sixth. Florida has tacked on two more runs and forced Arkansas to the bullpen for the third time. Zebulon Vermillion is the new pitcher.
Kostyshock pitched a career-long 3 2/3 innings. He has allowed six runs (four earned) so far. He also gave up seven hits.
Florida 12, Arkansas 2 - End 5th Inning
Jacob Kostyshock has thrown two straight scoreless innings. He worked around a leadoff infield hit in the fifth, eliminating the runner when he began a 1-6-3 double play.
Arkansas is probably about to get into the Florida bullpen. Gators starter Jackson Kowar enters the sixth having thrown 84 pitches.
Florida 12, Arkansas 2 - End 4th Inning
The Gators have had the first two batters on base every inning of this game, but Jacob Kostyshock just held Florida scoreless in an inning for the first time.
Kostyshock worked around a single and a hit-by-pitch with a few groundball outs, including a tapper back to the mound to end the inning.
Florida is outhitting Arkansas 9-3.
Florida 12, Arkansas 2 - Top 4th Inning
Heston Kjerstad got Arkansas' first hit with a two-out infield single and Grant Koch followed with a long home run to left field to put the Razorbacks on the scoreboard for the first time.
Florida 12, Arkansas 0 - End 3rd Inning
Murphy's Law is in full effect for Arkansas. After the Razorbacks were unable to turn an inning-ending double play, Will Dalton doubled down the line to score a runner, then Heston Kjerstad overran the ball in left and allowed Dalton to score.
The Gators batted around in the inning and scored six runs. Granted they are playing a great team, but this is probably as bad as the Razorbacks have looked this year.
Florida 10, Arkansas 0 - Bottom 3rd Inning
Keenan Bell jumped on Jacob Kostyshock's first pitch, hitting an RBI double to put the Gators ahead 8-0. Then Deacon Liput hit a two-run single a couple of at-bats later to give the Gators a 10-run lead. This is Arkansas' biggest deficit of the year.
Florida 7, Arkansas 0 - Middle 3rd Inning
The Gators are at it again in the third. Caleb Bolden issued consecutive walks to lead off the inning, then Austin Langworthy singled to plate another run.
Jacob Kostyshock is replacing Bolden, who pitched 1 inning in relief.
Florida 6, Arkansas 0 - Middle 3rd Inning
The Razorbacks are getting some chances because of Jackson Kowar's average command, especially on his fastball, which is missing high quite a bit.
But Arkansas hasn't been able to get a hit against Kowar, who has walked four. Carson Shaddy and Eric Cole drew walks in the third, but both were stranded when Casey Martin popped up to the infield and Luke Bonfield struck out swinging at a 2-2 fastball.
Martin had a pitch to hit. He was looking for a first-pitch fastball and got it, but just mistimed his swing.
Florida 6, Arkansas 0 - End 2nd Inning
Caleb Bolden put out the fire by getting a double play and inning-ending groundout on consecutive pitches. Liput scored from third to increase the Gators' lead.
Isaiah Campbell's final line: 1 inning, 6 runs (5 earned), 4 hits, 4 walks, 2 strikeouts. His ERA jumped today from 1.73 to 3.33.
Florida 5, Arkansas 0 - Bottom 2nd Inning
This one is getting ugly for Isaiah Campbell and the Razorbacks. Florida has hit back-to-back singles and walked in the second, and scored a run on a throwing error by Dominic Fletcher from center field. There are runners on first and third and no outs, and the Gators are already back into the heart of their lineup.
The throw by Fletcher went well wide of third, where he didn't have a chance of catching the lead runner. It allowed Deacon Liput to advance to third on what would have been a single.
Caleb Bolden is replacing Campbell, who gave up four hits and walked four while only recording three outs. This comes on the heels of what appeared to be his bounce back performance last week, when he threw an eight-inning gem against Kentucky.
Florida 4, Arkansas 0 - End 1st Inning
This has been a pretty bad start for Isaiah Campbell, who just gave up a one-out grand slam to Jonathan India. The Razorbacks have multiple pitchers warming in the bullpen.
Campbell walked the first two batters, missing low on consecutive 3-2 fastballs. That brought pitching coach Wes Johnson to the mound and he appeared to give Campbell an earful; did not look pleased about something.
Then Campbell gave up a single to Will Dalton on a blooper that fell in the triangle between the right and center fielders, and second base.
India homered on the first pitch from Campbell, an opposite-field shot that landed in the left field bullpen.
Campbell stranded one runner after a third walk. He threw 33 pitches in the inning.
Arkansas 0, Florida 0 - Middle 1st Inning
Florida starter Jackson Kowar had some trouble with his command in the first inning, missing with several high fastballs. Three consecutive Arkansas hitters took Kowar to three balls in the count, and Casey Martin and Luke Bonfield each drew two-out walks. The inning ended when Dominic Fletcher flied out to the shortstop in left field.
Kowar threw 23 pitches in that inning.
Pregame
Both teams will throw great pitchers again today. Arkansas right-hander Isaiah Campbell (2-2, 1.73 ERA in 26 innings) will go against Florida right-hander Jackson Kowar (3-1, 3.16 ERA in 31 1/3 innings).
The Razorbacks have the same batting order as yesterday.
The weather should be nice today with temperatures in the upper 70s.