Razorbacks sweep Memphis, win 4th straight

Arkansas' Matt Goodheart hits a home run while Memphis catcher Hunter Goodman watches from behind during a game Wednesday, March 24, 2021, in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas extended its win streak to four games with a 9-4 victory over Memphis on Wednesday at Baum-Walker Stadium.

Matt Goodheart recorded four hits, including a two-run home run to right field in the sixth inning to help the No. 2 Razorbacks pull away.

Goodheart's homer gave Arkansas a 6-3 lead. Zack Gregory added a fielder's choice later in the inning to extend the lead to 7-3.

Memphis shortstop Ben Brooks hit a leadoff home run against Kole Ramage in the top of the seventh inning to pull the Tigers within 7-4, but Goodheart added an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh and Gregory hit a solo home run in the eighth to set the final score.

Gregory and Goodheart each had 3 RBI for the Razorbacks (16-3).

Ramage pitched three innings to earn the save for Arkansas. Ramage, who entered the game with a 16.20 ERA, retired the final nine batters he faced after the Tigers recorded consecutive hits against him in the seventh.

Caden Monke pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to pick up his second win of the season. Monke allowed 1 run and 1 walk, and struck out 2.

Memphis (9-10) led 2-0 after 2 1/2 innings. The Tigers did not record a hit during the innings, but pieced together the runs with 3 walks, 2 sacrifice flies, 1 hit batter and 1 Arkansas error.

Fayetteville native Miller Pleimann pitched two innings in his Razorback debut. He walked 3 batters, hit 1 batter and threw 1 wild pitch. Pleimann struck out three and did not allow a hit.

Arkansas took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third. Ethan Bates' two-run single tied the game and Gregory hit a sacrifice fly to give the Razorbacks the lead.

Memphis tied the game 3-3 on Braden Webb's RBI single in the top of the fourth inning, but Arkansas took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth when Braydon Webb scored on a wild pitch by Memphis' Jackson Cothren.

Braydon Webb, who played in center field in place of Christian Franklin, was 1 for 3, drew 3 walks and scored 3 runs Wednesday. In 2 games against Memphis, Webb reached base in 10 of 12 plate appearances and scored 6 runs.

Arkansas is scheduled to play at No. 4 Mississippi State on Friday in the first game of a three-game series.