Diamond Hogs drop series opener to Florida
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The No. 4 Arkansas Razorbacks dropped game one of their series against the Florida Gators on Friday night at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville.
Arkansas’ starting righty Gabe Gaeckle was off and lasted just 1.1 inning before he was pulled in the second inning. He allowed three runs and walked four batters with zero strikeouts. He struggled with his command and threw 22 of his 46 pitches for strikes.
Sophomore lefty Cole Gibler came on for Gaeckle in the second inning and delivered 4.2 solid innings of work. He struck out five batters to three walks and allowed two runs. He threw strikes on 51 of his 86 pitches.
Free passes plagued the Hogs. As a staff, the Arkansas pitchers combined for 10 walks and two hit batters. Florida took advantage of those free bases on three separate occasions. Three runs were scored in the second inning by the Gators, and two of those runners who crossed to score got on base did so without registering a hit.
That happened again in the seventh and the ninth, just after a two-run home run from Ryder Helfrick cut the 4-0 deficit in half. Brendan Lawson drew a walk from Steele Eaves, and Karson Bowen hit a two-run blast to give the Gators a four-run lead yet again.
Then in the ninth inning, two walks issued by Mark Brissey and Tate McGuire — one a piece — came around to score on a single to right field.
Florida starter Liam Peterson also issued his fair share of walks with six, but Arkansas struggled to get runners across the plate and hit just 2-12 with runners in scoring position and 3-13 with runners on. They struck out 16 times.
Arkansas’ only source of offense offense came off the aforementioned blast from Helfrick, and two runs scored in the eighth. Maika Niu hit an infield single and then advanced to second on a throwing error, and Carter Rutenbar hit a double to bring him home. Reese Robinett hit another double to score Rutenbar, but that was all the Hogs could muster.
In the top of the ninth inning, Florida pushed across three insurance runs and Arkansas went down with no fight in the bottom of the frame to end the game.
Arkansas and Florida will meet in Game 2 of the series on Saturday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. CT and the game will stream on the SEC Network+.
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Starting Lineups
Arkansas
- LF Damian Ruiz
- SS Camden Kozeal
- C Ryder Helfrick
- RF Zack Stewart
- 2B Nolan Souza
- CF Maika Niu
- DH Carter Rutenbar
- 1B Reese Robinett
- 3B TJ Pompey
Florida
- CF Kyle Jones
- SS Brendan Lawson
- 2B Cade Kurland
- C Karson Bowen
- 1B Ethan Surowiec
- LF Blake Cyr
- RF Cash Strayer
- DH Cole Stanford
- 3B Colton Schwarz
Ninth Inning
FINAL: Florida 9, Arkansas 4
Florida
- Kurland grounded out to 3b (0-2 SF)
- Bowen singled up the middle (2-1 BBK)
- Surowiec walked (3-2 BKFBFFBB); Bowen advanced to second
McGuire to p for Brissey
- Cyr walked (3-1 KBBBB); Surowiec advanced to second; Bowen advanced to third
- Strayer singled to left field, RBI (1-2 KSB); Cyr advanced to second; Surowiec advanced to third; Bowen scored (7-4 UF)
- Stanford singled to left field, 2 RBI (1-1 FB); Strayer advanced to second; Cyr scored; Surowiec scored (9-4 UF)
- Miller struck out swinging (2-2 KBKBS)
- K. Jones struck out looking (3-2 SSBBBK)
UF Inning Summary: 3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB
Arkansas
- Turner struck out swinging (1-2 KBFFS)
- Kozeal struck out looking (0-2 KFK)
- Helfrick struck out looking (2-2 KFBBK)
Eighth Inning
Florida 6, Arkansas 4
Florida
- Miller out at first 1b to p (0-0)
- K. Jones grounded out to 3b (0-2 KK)
- Lawson struck out swinging (2-2 BBKKS)
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
Arkansas
- Stewart lined out to 2b (2-2 BKFB)
- Souza grounded out to ss (1-1 BK)
- Niu singled to third base, advanced to second on a throwing error by 3b (3-2 BBKBF)
- Rutenbar doubled down the lf line, RBI (2-2 FBFB); Niu scored, unearned (6-3 UF)
- Robinett doubled to right field, RBI (3-2 BKBFB); Rutenbar scored (6-4 UF)
- Pompey struck out swinging (0-2 KSS)
ARK Inning Summary: 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Errors, 1 LOB
Seventh Inning
Florida 6, Arkansas 2
Florida
- Lawson walked (3-0 BBBB)
Eaves to p for Gibler
- Lawson advanced to second on a wild pitch
- Kurland struck out looking (2-2 KSBBK)
- Bowen homered to left field, 2 RBI (2-2 KBKB); Lawson scored (6-2 UF)
- Surowiec grounded out to 2b (1-0 B)
- Cyr doubled to left field (0-1 F)
- Strayer walked (3-2 KSFBBBB)
- Stanford reached on a fielder’s choice (3-1 BBKB); Strayer advanced to second; Cyr out at third 3b unassisted
UF Inning Summary: 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB
Arkansas
- Ruiz struck out swinging (2-2 BKKBS)
- Kozeal grounded out to 3b (3-2 BBKFB)
- Helfrick flied out to rf (3-2 BBKBK)
ARK Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
Sixth Inning
Florida 4, Arkansas 2
Florida
- Stanford grounded out to 3b (1-1 BK)
- Schwarz grounded out to ss (3-2 SKFBBBF)
- K. Jones struck out swinging (0-2 SFS)
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
Arkansas
- Rutenbar grounded out to 1b unassisted (1-2 BKS)
- Robinett struck out swinging (1-2 KKBS)
- Pompey struck out swinging (2-2 KFBBS)
ARK Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
Fifth Inning
Florida 4, Arkansas 2
Florida
- Bowen singled to third base (0-2 KF)
- Surowiec lined out to rf (0-0)
- Cyr struck out swinging (2-2 BKBSS)
- Strayer struck out swinging (2-2 BKBSS)
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
Arkansas
- Kozeal walked (3-2 FBBKBB)
- Helfrick homered to right center, 2 RBI (1-1 KB); Kozeal scored (4-2 UF)
- Stewart grounded out to 2b (1-2 BKS)
- Souza struck out looking (2-2 BSBKK)
- Niu struck out looking (0-2 FSFK)
ARK Inning Summary: 2 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
Fourth Inning
Florida 4, Arkansas 0
Florida
- K. Jones flied out to rf (0-2 FSFF)
- Lawson walked (3-1 FBBBB)
- Lawson out at second c to 2b, caught stealing
- Kurland grounded out to p (2-2 BBKS)
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
Arkansas
- Niu walked (3-2 KBFBFFBB)
- Rutenbar walked (3-1 BFBBB); Niu advanced to second
- Robinett flied out to cf (2-2 SKBB); Niu advanced to third
- Pompey struck out swinging (0-2 SKS)
- Ruiz struck out looking (0-2 FKK)
ARK Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB
Third Inning
Florida 4, Arkansas 0
Florida
- Kurland flied out to cf (2-0 BB)
- Bowen struck out swinging (0-2 KKS)
- Surowiec homered to right field, RBI (3-2 BBKBF) (4-0 UF)
- Cyr singled to left field (1-1 KB)
- Cyr advanced to second on a passed ball
- Strayer walked (3-1 BBBKB)
- Stanford hit by pitch (1-1 BK); Strayer advanced to second; Cyr advanced to third
- Schwarz grounded out to 2b (1-2 KBF)
UF Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB
Arkansas
- Ruiz popped up to 3b (3-1 BBKB)
- Kozeal struck out swinging (1-2 BKKS)
- Helfrick walked (3-2 KBKBBB)
- Stewart walked (3-2 KBBBKFFB); Helfrick advanced to second
- Souza struck out swinging (2-2 SKBBFFS)
ARK Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB
Second Inning
Florida 3, Arkansas 0
Florida
- Surowiec flied out to rf (3-2 KSBBBF)
- Cyr singled to left field (2-2 FKFFBB)
- Cyr stole second
- Strayer walked (3-2 BSKBBB)
- Schwarz walked, RBI (3-2 BBSSBFB); Stanford advanced to second; Strayer advanced to third; Cyr scored. (1-0 UF)
Gibler to p for Gaeckle
- Schwarz advanced to second on a wild pitch; Stanford advanced to third on a wild pitch; Strayer scored on a wild pitch (2-0 UF)
- K. Jones lined out to cf, SF, RBI (1-1 BK); Schwarz advanced to third; Stanford scored (3-0 UF)
- Lawson struck out swinging (3-2 KBBKFBFFS)
UF Inning Summary: 3 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
Arkansas
- Niu doubled to left field (0-0)
- Rutenbar struck out swinging (2-2 BKSBS)
- Robinett popped up to 3b (0-0)
- Pompey flied out to rf (0-1 K)
ARK Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
First Inning
Arkansas 0, Florida 0
Florida
- K. Jones walked (3-2 BBFBFB)
- K. Jones stole second
- Lawson hit by pitch (1-0 B)
- Kurland grounded into double play 3b to 1b (0-1 K); Lawson advanced to second; K. Jones out on the play
- Bowen grounded out to 3b (1-2 KBK)
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
Arkansas
- Ruiz struck out swinging (2-2 SBBKS)
- Kozeal walked (3-2 BKSBBB)
- Helfrick walked (3-2 FBBBKFB); Kozeal advanced to second
- Stewart struck out looking (1-2 SFBK)
- Souza lined out to 3b (3-2 BKBKB)
ARK Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB
