Texas A&M avoided a meltdown against No. 1 Arkansas when lefty reliever Chandler Jozwiak struckout two with the bases loaded in the ninth inning for an 11-10 victory Sunday.
The Aggies salvaged the final game of the three-game series at Baum-Walker Stadium, snapping an eight-game SEC losing streak.
Jozwiak (2-3) got the loss on Saturday when the Aggies committed an error on a potential double-play grounder in the 10th inning. He did not allow Arkansas' top two hitters to put the ball in play this time.
The Hogs had battled back from a 10-4 deficit to trail by one run after the seventh inning. But they could not score in the final two innings.
In the ninth, Casey Opitz and Jalen Battles both walked. Zack Gregory, who hit a three-run homer in the seventh, moved them to scoring position with a sacrifice bunt on a close play at first base. Robert Moore was walked intentionally.
That brought on Jozwiak. He got both Matt Goodheart and Caden Wallace on check swing strikeouts on pitches low and out of the strike zone.
The Hogs had rallied for victories nine times when trailing by more than three runs, but the Aggies held on Sunday.
Arkansas (30-6, 11-4) is one game ahead of Mississippi State in the SEC West. Texas A&M is 21-17 and 4-11.
Texas A&M 11, Arkansas 10, Middle 9th Inning
Jaxon Wiggins got the Aggies in order for the first time on the day, all on fly outs to the outfield. They went 1-2-3 on towering pops to Christian Franklin for the first two outs, and a shallow fly to Zack Gregory for the final out.
Texas A&M 11, Arkansas 10, End 8th Inning
The Razorbacks did not score against A&M's best righthand reliever, hard throwing Trevor Werner. Brady Slavens stroked a one-out single, but Christian Franklin fanned and pinch-hitter Charlie Welch popped to first base.
The Aggies stranded two runners in scoring position against reliever Jaxon Wiggins. They had scored in every inning except the second. Wiggins put runners on base with a hit by pitch and a walk. Ty Coleman popped to shortstop Jalen Battles to end the threat. Battles also charged a bouncer to his right for another out on a nice play. Wiggins hit 99 mph with one fast ball in the inning.
Texas A&M 11, Arkansas 10, End 7th Inning
Zack Gregory's three-run homer made it a one-run game as the Hogs rally. Gregory hit a liner 10 feet inside the foul pole. Cullen Smith had reached on a hit by pitch and Casey Opitz walked to precede the Gregory blast. It came off of lefty A&M reliever Joseph Menefee. It was the first homer Menefee had allowed.
Arkansas reliever Caleb Bolden gave up one run on two hits and a ground out. Bryce Blaun singled to behind second base, a play Jalen Battles made, but bounced the throw to first after a spin. Mikey Hoehner's tap to the pitcher advanced Blaun. Kalee Harrison's RBI single to right scored Blaun.
Texas A&M 10, Arkansas 7, End 5th Inning
The Razorbacks answered a four-run burst by the Aggies with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Matt Goodheart's liner off the building in right field came after a bloop double by Zack Gregory and a walk to Robert Moore.
The Aggies took a six-run lead to start the frame. Hunter Coleman stroked a three-run homer to follow an RBI single by Will Frizzell as the Aggies scored four to extend the lead to 10-4. Zach Morris did record two outs in the inning before giving way to Caden Monke with two runners aboard. Frizzell's single to greet Monke gave him three RBI on the day. Coleman's homer was to straight away left field and cleared the wall by 30 feet.
Texas A&M 6, Arkansas 4, End 5th Inning
The Aggies reclaimed the lead with two runs thanks to a pair of walks and a hit by pitch. Logan Sartori was hit by pitch, ending Ryan Costeiu's short outing to lead off the inning. Zach Morris came on to pitch and walked Will Frizell and Hunter Coleman. Brett Minnich plated one with a fly to the warning track in right center caught by Christian Franklin. Ty Coleman's grounder to shortstop plated a second run.
A&M reliever Mason Ornelas worked around a two-out Cullen Smith single. He fanned Brady Slavens and Casey Opitz. Christian Franklin was retired on a fly to the warning track in right center.
Arkansas 4, Texas A&M 4, End 4th Inning
Robert Moore pulled the Hogs even with a line-drive homer to right field. It is his 8th of the season and gives the Hogs 68, tops in Division I. A&M pitcher Nathan Dettmer's pitch count is up to 95.
Dave Van Horn pulled starter Lael Lockhart when he gave up a lead-off single to Brett Minnich. Ryan Costeiu is the relief pitcher after Lockhart gave up five hits.
The Aggies took the lead with two runs, taking advantage of a botched double play grounder to shortstop Jalen Battles. The ball came out of his hand as he took it from his glove. Bryce Blaun bunted the runners to scoring position and Mikey Harrison followed with a two-run bloop single to right center.
Arkansas 3, Texas A&M 2, End 3rd Inning
Will Frizzell added a second RBI. The lefty slugger had a solo homer in the first. He added a line single to center to plate Kalae Harrison. Harrison had singled to center to open the frame. Ray Alejo reached on a hit by pitch. Logan Sartori bounced into a double play, Harrison moving to third. Frizzell came through with a two-out hit.
The Razorbacks went down in order for the first time. Nathan Dettmer got Cullen Smith and Casey Opitz to grounders to first. Jalen Battles popped to the second baseman. Dettmer has thrown 76 pitches in three innings.
Arkansas 3, Texas A&M 1, End 2nd Inning
Bryce Blaum singled with two outs and stole second, but was stranded when Mikey Hoehner whiffed.
The Hogs reclaimed the lead by sending nine batters to the plate and scoring three. Nathan Dettmer walked three before Caden Wallace drove home two with a sinking liner to left center that went for a double when outfielder Logan Sortori's diving scoop came up empty. Casey Opitz and Robert Moore scored. Brady Slavens got another RBI on a slow roller to third.
Nathan Dettmer is up to 64 pitches.
Texas A&M 1, Arkansas 0, End 1st Inning
Robert Moore grounded out, but Matt Goodheart followed by singling through the infield to give him 36 hits in SEC action.
Texas A&m starting pitcher Nathan Dettmer got Cayden Wallace to pop out, but Brady Slavens singled Goodheart to third to bring up Christian Franklin.
Franklin was hit by the pitch to load the bases and bring Cullen Smith to the plate. The HBP was reviewed and Franklin was awarded first base.
Dettmer escaped the jam unscathed by striking out Smith.
Texas A&M 1, Arkansas 0, Middle 1st Inning
Lael Lockhart started the game by fanning Ray Alejo and getting Logan Sartori to fly out, but Will Frizzell homered to give Texas A&M its first lead of the weekend.
It is Frizzell's 12thy home run of the season and his team's 46th of the season.
Lockhart follows by fanning Hunter Coleman.
Pregame
No. 1 Arkansas (30-5, 11-3) will send lefty Lael Lockhart (1-1, 4.24) to the mound on Sunday as it tries to sweep a three-game series from Texas A&M (20-17, 3-11).
The Razorbacks lead the SEC Western Division by two games over both Ole Miss (26-9, 9-5) and Mississippi State (26-8, 9-5), who have split a pair of games in Starkville this weekend.
Arkansas also the league's best overall conference mark with No. 2 Vanderbilt (27-6, 10-4) and No. 3 Tennessee (29-7, 10-4), two teams who are tied atop the SEC Eastern Division.
Lockhart is making his team-leading ninth start of the season and has allowed 28 hits, 16 runs, 14 walks and 35 strikeouts in 34 innings of work.
Texas A&M will send right hander Nathan Dettmer (3-1, 2.43). Dettmer has pitched 40.2 innings this season while allowing 14 runs (11 earned), 32 hits, fanning 39 and walking 19.