April 5, 2019
Arkansas snapped a four-game losing streak with one of its more memorable SEC wins.
Heston Kjerstad hit a leadoff home run in the top of the 15th inning and Matt Goodheart added a two-run double later in the inning to give the Razorbacks the decisive runs in a 9-6 victory at Auburn.
The 15-inning classic came in the second game of a doubleheader between the teams. Auburn scored six unanswered to win 6-3 in Game 1.
Kjerstad's go-ahead homer came in his eighth at-bat of Game 2 after a 0-for-7 start. It happened moments after Auburn's leadoff hitter, Judd Ward, struck out against Arkansas pitcher Kevin Kopps to strand the bases loaded in the bottom of the 14th inning.
The Tigers put their leadoff hitter on base in the 10th, 12th, 13th and 14th innings, but came away scoreless three times. The Tigers scored twice in the 12th to tie the game after Trevor Ezell had given the Razorbacks a 6-4 lead with a home run in the top of the inning.
Auburn players dog piled when they thought they had won the game - and the series - in the 10th inning. Matt Scheffler singled to score Steven Williams from second base, but the Razorbacks appealed the call at the plate and replay showed Arkansas catcher Casey Opitz had tagged Williams before he scored. Arkansas left fielder Christian Franklin was credited with the assist, which sent Auburn back to the dugout with the final out of the inning.
Arkansas closer Matt Cronin worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning and left Auburn runners stranded two Tigers in scoring position in the eighth. Treating the game as a must-win, the Razorbacks unloaded their bullpen, including throwing Kole Ramage for 4 2/3 of the extra innings.
The 15 innings were tied for Arkansas' most in a regular-season SEC game (South Carolina, 2002) and were tied for the program's third most in any game.
The Razorbacks won 8-0 the following day to win the series. The wins at Auburn began a 17-4 stretch that helped Arkansas win the SEC West and secure a top-eight national seed for the NCAA Tournament.
Arkansas and Auburn both finished their seasons at the College World Series.