FAYETTEVILLE — No. 1 Arkansas fell one run short of a six-run comeback Sunday in a 11-10 loss to Texas A&M at Baum-Walker Stadium.
After the Razorbacks loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, Arkansas' No. 2 and 3 hitters, Matt Goodheart and Cayden Wallace, struck out against Texas A&M closer Chandler Jozwiak. Arkansas left the bases loaded twice and stranded 11 runners during the game.
"Give (Jozwiak) credit," Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. "He made two great pitches to Goodheart on the outside corner and then dropped about an 88 mph slider in the dirt and he couldn’t check his swing...That was just a great effort by him."
Arkansas starter Lael Lockhart threw 3 innings and gave up 5 hits, 2 earned runs and 1 unearned run.
"We had to go to the bullpen again way too early," Van Horn said.
The Razorbacks went through four pitchers in the next four innings after Lockhart exited. Ryan Costeiu, Zack Morris, Caden Monke and Caleb Bolden gave up a combined 8 earned runs, 6 hits and 3 walks as Texas A&M (21-17, 4-11 SEC) scored in five straight innings to take an 11-7 lead into the bottom of the seventh.
Goodheart and Zack Gregory hit three-run home runs in the sixth and seventh innings to pull the Razorbacks (30-6, 11-4) within one run, but the Hogs couldn't scratch across any more runs to tie the game.
Van Horn is pleased with his teams 11-4 record in conference, but he wasn't happy they let this home game get away. Arkansas won the series with wins of 13-0 and 2-1 in 10 innings Saturday.
"I think pretty much every coach in the league would be happy with 11-4," He said. "So starting the second half and the (next) six games (at South Carolina and LSU) are on the road in conference play. That’s why we always say when you’ve got a chance to get a win, get a win, because you never know how it’s going to go."
Arkansas is scheduled to play Grambling State at 6:30 p.m. at Baum-Walker Stadium on Tuesday.