Arkansas 8, Georgia 6 - Final
Matt Cronin had a quick 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth and the Razorbacks have a great comeback win to their credit.
Arkansas scored six runs in the seventh inning, then held Georgia to a run apiece in the seventh and eighth. Both teams had 11 hits and stranded nine runners. The Razorbacks had three errors.
Casey Martin had two of those errors, but he also had four hits and scored two runs. His leadoff single in the seventh started the rally. Luke Bonfield had the big swing of the game with his opposite-field home run to give the Razorbacks a 5-4 lead.
Arkansas won a road opener for the fourth time in SEC play, but lost the two subsequent games at Florida, Ole Miss and LSU. The Razorbacks will go for the series win tomorrow at 2 p.m.
With tonight's win, Arkansas assures a first-round bye at the SEC Tournament next week. The Razorbacks also remain a game ahead of Ole Miss in the SEC West race. Ole Miss defeated Alabama 3-2 tonight.
Arkansas 8, Georgia 6 - Middle 9th Inning
Arkansas was swinging at everything in a quick 1-2-3 ninth inning. Matt Cronin will face Georgia's 4, 5 and 6 hitters in the bottom of the ninth.
Arkansas 8, Georgia 6 - End 8th Inning
Georgia scored another run with two outs in the eighth. C.J. Smith, who singled with one out, scored on a two-out single by Aaron Schunk. Arkansas center fielder Dominic Fletcher made a diving attempt to catch it, but it was a bit too far in front of him.
The inning ended one batter later on a groundout to the shortstop.
Matt Cronin pitched the eighth for Arkansas. He has given up three hits in 1 2/3 innings and has two strikeouts. This is his longest outing since coming back from mononucleosis.
Arkansas 8, Georgia 5 - End 7th Inning
Georgia loaded the bases with one out, but only scored one run and the Razorbacks still have a healthy lead with six outs to go on each side.
The Bulldogs got two quick hits against Jake Reindl, and Reindl was pulled six pitches into another at-bat. Matt Cronin gave up the hit in his first pitch to load the bases, but Cronin got an RBI groundout and a strikeout to end the inning.
Arkansas is out-hitting Georgia 11-9. The Razorbacks have stranded nine runners to the Bulldogs' eight.
Arkansas 8, Georgia 4 - Middle 7th Inning
The Arkansas seventh finally ended when Casey Martin struck out. Martin was 4-for-4 prior to the at-bat and had the leadoff single that started the rally in the seventh.
Some more good news for the Razorbacks: Grant Koch pinch hit in the top of the inning and will catch in the bottom of the seventh. He, of course, suffered the ankle sprain last Sunday against Texas A&M.
Jake Reindl is replacing Blaine Knight on the mound. Knight, who is now in line for the win, has a final line of: 4 runs (2 earned), 6 hits, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts.
Arkansas 8, Georgia 4 - Top 7th Inning
Another wild pitch allowed Carson Shaddy to score from third base, then Eric Cole ripped a 3-2 fastball down the right field line to score Jack Kenley from second base. Kenley reached on a two-out walk.
The Razorbacks have scored six runs in the seventh.
Arkansas 6, Georgia 4 - Top 7th Inning
The Razorbacks have sent five to the plate this inning and have not recorded an out. Dominic Fletcher tripled after Bonfield's home run and scored on a wild pitch. Carson Shaddy was walked in the next pitch.
Arkansas 5, Georgia 4 - Top 7th Inning
With two swings Arkansas has changed this game. Casey Martin reached with a leadoff single and advanced to second on a passed ball. Heston Kjerstad worked a nine-pitch at-bat and singled to score Martin, then Luke Bonfield hit a two-run home run to center field to give the Razorbacks the lead.
That chases Tony Locey, one of Georgia's top relievers.
Bonfield had not hit a home run in quite a while prior to the Texas A&M series, but now has two in two games. He has reached three times tonight on a walk, a hit by pitch and that homer.
Georgia 4, Arkansas 2 - End 6th Inning
It appeared both teams would go in order in the inning, but Blaine Knight hit Georgia batters in consecutive pitches to make things interesting. The inning ended when Knight struck out Tucker Maxwell on a 3-2 pitch. It was his fifth strikeout of the game.
Georgia 4, Arkansas 2 - End 5th Inning
Georgia put runners on the corners one out after a walk and a single, but its rally ended when Carson Shaddy started a 4-6-3 double play on a groundball by Adam Sasser.
The Bulldogs are making a change on the mound for the sixth. Right-hander Tony Locey is replacing starter Chase Adkins, whose final line was: 5 innings, 2 runs (0 earned), 6 hits, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts. He is in line to be the winning pitcher.
Georgia 4, Arkansas 2 - Middle 5th Inning
Arkansas had a promising inning when Casey Martin and Heston Kjerstad reached on singles, but Luke Bonfield hit into a fielder's choice and Dominic Fletcher popped up to the infield for two quick outs. Carson Shaddy was intentionally walked to get to Evan Lee, pinch-hitting for Hunter Wilson. Lee went ahead 3-0, but then took two strikes and swung at an off-speed pitch inside and low to end the inning. Had Lee taken the pitch the Razorbacks would have walked home a run.
Arkansas has stranded eight base runners to Georgia's three. The Razorbacks are out-hitting the Bulldogs 6-5.
Jared Gates is the new first baseman, replacing Wilson, who had an error that led to a run in the first inning.
Georgia 4, Arkansas 2 - Bottom 4th Inning
A two-out error by Casey Martin allowed the inning to continue and Georgia made Arkansas pay. C.J. Smith, the nine-hole hitter, singled with two outs to give the Bulldogs a two-run lead.
That is the second time Georgia has scored after an Arkansas error. The Razorbacks have committed three errors already, including two by Martin at third base.
Georgia 3, Arkansas 2 - Bottom 4th Inning
Adam Sasser's one-out home run has given Georgia the lead. That is the Bulldogs' second home run tonight.
If there is one knock right now on Arkansas pitcher Blaine Knight, it is that he is leaving the ball up in the zone a little much, creating the opportunity for opposing teams to drive his pitches. He has given up at least one home run in five straight starts, including two homers in each of his past two starts.
Arkansas 2, Georgia 2 - Middle 4th Inning
Arkansas went down in order in the top of the fourth - their first 1-2-3 inning tonight.
Arkansas 2, Georgia 2 - End 3rd Inning
Georgia put a runner aboard in the third with an error by Arkansas third baseman Casey Martin, but the inning ended when catcher Casey Opitz threw out Keegan McGovern trying to steal second base.
Arkansas 2, Georgia 2 - Middle 3rd Inning
Kjerstad was on the short end of another great defensive play from Georgia. He's essentially been robbed of two hits tonight. Bonfield was hit by a pitch, apparently, and was awarded first base. Fletcher reached on a single, advancing Bonfield to second.
Carson Shaddy then struck out swinging. With Hunter Wilson up, Adkins threw about a 58-foot pitch, which bounced away from the Bulldogs catcher and allowed Fletcher and Bonfield to advance. But it didn't hurt Adkins in the end as he sat Wilson down on strikes with a pitch well out of the zone.
Arkansas 2, Georgia 2 - End 2nd Inning
Cam Shepherd homered to deep left field off Knight early in the count and, just like that, the game is knotted at 2-2. Knight fanned LJ Talley for his second K of the night, then Mason Meadows flew out to deep left-center. Knight followed with a strikeout of C.J. Smith to end the inning.
Kjerstad, Bonfield and Fletcher are due up for Arkansas in the third.
Arkansas 2, Georgia 1 - Middle 2nd Inning
Adkins recorded his first strikeout of the night by slipping a high fastball by Opitz, who's making just his seventh start of the season. Adkins hasn't been pleased with home plate umpire Ryan Morehead's strike zone to this point. Kenley drew a walk after taking a couple of 50-50 pitches then stole second.
Cole flew out to center, bringing Martin to the plate with a runner in scoring position. Martin singled to left, but Kenley was gunned down at the plate by McGovern to end the inning. Very, very aggressive send by Nate Thompson at third.
Arkansas 2, Georgia 1 - End 1st Inning
Tonight's first basemen are getting a workout. Georgia leadoff hitter Tucker Bradley hit a ball between Hunter Wilson at first and Carson Shaddy at second, but Wilson made the pitch to Knight, covering first, for the out. Knight then got Aaron Schunk to fly out to Cole in right.
Then, in charging a slowly hit ball toward first, the ball went under Wilson's glove and McGovern was able to beat Shaddy's glove flip to Knight at first. Wilson was given an error on the play. Bulldogs DH Michael Curry then ripped a ball under Martin's glove for a double, scoring McGovern.
Knight then sat Sasser down on strikes to end the first.
Arkansas will send Casey Opitz, Jack Kenley and Eric Cole to the plate to begin the second.
Arkansas 2, Georgia 0 - Middle 1st Inning
Leadoff man Eric Cole hit a chopper to first base, which was bobbled by Bulldogs first baseman Adam Sasser, but he corralled the ball in time to scoop to pitcher Chase Adkins and beat Cole by a step at the bag. Casey Martin followed with a single that ricocheted off the base, giving Arkansas its first baserunner of the night.
Heston Kjerstad was robbed of a hit in left field on a nice diving play by Keegan McGovern for the second out. Cleanup hitter Luke Bonfield then drew his 32nd walk of the season, bringing Dominic Fletcher of the plate, who hit a ball hard at Sasser. Sasser misplayed the ball, loading the bases for Carson Shaddy.
Shaddy then singled left, scoring Martin and Bonfield. Hunter Wilson challenged Sasser again with a hard-hit ball to first, but he made the routine play to end the threat and strand a pair of Razorbacks.
Blaine Knight heads to the mound for Arkansas.