Arkansas 11, Western Illinois 1 - Final (8)
Arkansas loaded the bases with no outs and won on a run rule with back-to-back one-out RBI singles by Trey Harris and Matt Goodheart. The Razorbacks are 14-2 entering SEC play. Western Illinois fell to 4-10.
More on this game soon at WholeHogSports.com.
Arkansas 9, Western Illinois 1 - End 7th Inning
Dominic Fletcher's RBI double put Arkansas a little closer to a run rule, but the inning ended when Jordan McFarland grounded out to end the inning.
Zebulon Vermillion, who retired all three batters in the seventh, is back on the mound for the eighth.
Arkansas 7, Western Illinois 1 - End 6th Inning
Western Illinois snapped a 23-inning scoreless streak for the Razorbacks. Kevin Raisbeck was hit by pitcher Elijah Trest to lead off the inning and advanced on two singles, including an RBI single by Bailey Montgomery.
The Razorbacks did not have a base runner in the bottom of the inning - their first inning without a base runner today.
Arkansas 7, Western Illinois 0 - End 5th Inning
The Razorbacks have a crooked inning on the board. Curtis Washington Jr. had a sacrifice bunt RBI, Casey Martin had an RBI single and Trevor Ezell had an RBI double in the inning. Heston Kjerstad scored on a wild pitch.
Arkansas sent nine batters to the plate in the inning.
Elijah Trest is on to pitch the sixth for the Razorbacks.
Arkansas 3, Western Illinois 0 - End 4th Inning
Casey Martin reached on a double to the catcher - yes, you read that right. Martin hit a ball a mile high and it dropped in front of the catcher, about 20 feet in front of the plate. Heston Kjerstad was hit by a pitch and Trevor Ezell hit a bunt single to load the bases with no outs.
But once again, the Razorbacks weren't able to do much. Martin scored on a sacrifice fly by Dominic Fletcher, but Arkansas was doubled up when Kjerstad was thrown out at the plate by WIU right fielder Trenton Bauer on a fly ball by Jordan McFarland.
The Razorbacks have stranded eight.
Marshall Denton pitched three scoreless innings. He allowed two hits and struck out three.
Arkansas 2, Western Illinois 0 - End 3rd Inning
The Razorbacks are ahead but should be up by much more. Arkansas has stranded seven through three innings.
Dominic Fletcher singled, advanced on a balk and scored on Jacob Nesbit's RBI single. The run was unearned after Zack Plunkett reached on a throwing error by the pitcher with two outs.
Arkansas 1, Western Illinois 0 - End 2nd Inning
The Razorbacks are ahead after a throwing error by the WIU shortstop. He was positioned well on a grounder by Casey Martin, but overthrew the first baseman by a mile, allowing Jacob Nesbit to score from second base. Martin advanced to second on a ball thrown out of play.
Nesbit reached on a single and stole second base. He was initially called out at second, but it was overturned on replay.
WIU intentionally walked Heston Kjerstad with two outs and Trevor Ezell flied out to end the inning.
Arkansas 0, Western Illinois 0 - End 1st Inning
Arkansas had a chance to put a dent in the scoreboard, but couldn't score after loading the bases with one out - a recurring theme this season. Jordan McFarland and Jack Kenley both struck out to end the inning after WIU starter Justin Foy issued two walks and hit a batter.
Pregame
The start of today's game is delayed 15 minutes to get the field ready after it rained all day.
It is sunny now and in the mid 50s. There is a big wind blowing in from right field today that is going to create some issues.
Arkansas will start right hander Marshall Denton (0-0, 2.45 ERA in 3 2/3 innings) against Western Illinois right hander Justin Foy (0-2, 6.91 ERA in 14 1/3 innings).
Zack Plunkett is starting at catcher for the Razorbacks. Curtis Washington Jr. is getting his first career start in left field.
Arkansas is wearing red jerseys and hats, and white pants. WIU is wearing gold tops with white pants and purple hats.
There is a run rule today if a team is leading by 10 runs after seven innings.