LIVE UPDATES: No. 8 Arkansas topples Tarleton State in bullpen battle
No. 8 Arkansas used a 3-run first inning to win three out of four games across opening weekend in Arlington with a 3-1 win over the Tarleton Texans.
The first four Razorbacks reached, taking advantage of a shaky start from Texan starter Daniel Bass. Left fielder Damian Ruiz reached the in his first two plate appearances, extending his streak to 13 before striking out in the fourth.
Center fielder Maika Niu opened the scoring on a swinging bunt RBI single perfectly placed up the third base line. Two more runs came home on back-to-back RBI fielder’s choice.
That was all the offense that Arkansas would need as the trio of Peyton Lee, Ethan McElvain and Mark Brissey allowed just one run on six hits. Razorback pitching struck out 13 batters, allowing just one walk.
Brissey also recorded his first career save, getting the final six outs in his college debut.
Fellow freshman Lee pitched solid across 4 ⅓, striking out five. His only blemish came in the fifth when he allowed back-to-back extra base hits leading to the Texans’ only run.
McElvain struck out five in 2 ⅔ scoreless innings of work, including back-to-back strikeouts in the seventh after an errant pickoff throw put a runner on third with one out.
Arkansas’ offense managed just two extra base hits, both off the bat of first baseman Reese Robinett and did not score after the first. The Razorbacks are 4-for-40 (.100) with runners in scoring position across the last three games.
The Razorbacks return to Baum Walker Stadium for the home opener against Xavier 3 p.m. Friday. The game will be streamed on SEC Network+.
Play By Play:
No. 8 Arkansas extends its stay in Arlington an extra day to play the Tarleton State Texans. The Texans are 3-0 to start the season after sweeping the Le Moyne Dolphins to start the season. The Texans outscored the Dolphins 38-15.
Arkansas’ Peyton Lee gets his first career start on the mound. Tarleton State counters with righty Daniel Bass, who transferred to the Texans after one season at Texas Tech. Bass allowed 6 earned runs in 4 innings of work for the Red Raider last year (13.50 ERA).
Kuhio Aloy misses his second straight game after being removed from Saturday’s game with a tight hamstring. Zack Stewart starts in right field in his place. Left fielder Damian Ruiz also leads off for the second straight game after reaching base in 11 straight plate appearances.
Arkansas functions as the visiting team.
Starting Lineups
Arkansas
1. LF Damian Ruiz
2. C Ryder Helfrick
3. 2B Cam Kozeal
4. CF Maika Niu
5. 1B Reese Robinett
6. DH Nolan Souza
7. 3B TJ Pompey
8. RF Zack Stewart
9. SS Carson Brumbaugh
RHP Peyton Lee
Tarleton State
1. LF Carson Lorch
2. 2B Slade McCloud
3. C Brady Englett
4. 1B Cage McCloud
5. DH Sergio Guerra
6. SS Ike Shirey
7. RF Jake Tatom
8. 3B Raphaël Smeenk
9. CF Kendyl Johnson
RHP Daniel Bass
Live Play-By-Play:
9th Inning:
Pompey flied out to right, 1 out
Turner singled to right
Brumbaugh grounded into a double play, short to second to first, Turner out at second, 3 outs
Shirey struck out looking, 1 out
Matt Guthmiller pinch hit for Tatom
Guthmiller struck out looking, 2 outs
Smeenk flied out to left, 3 outs
8th Inning:
Kozeal flied out to right, 1 out
Niu grounded out to first, unassisted, 2 outs
Robinett doubled to center
Souza grounded out to second, 3 outs
Mark Brissey replaces McElvain
Slade McCloud struck out looking, 1 out
Englett singled to the pitcher, bunt
Englett picked off first, pitcher to first, 2 outs
Cage McCloud walked
Guerra popped out to second, 3 outs
7th Inning:
Anthony Treto replaces Lucas
Brumbaugh flied out to right, 1 out
Ruiz flied out to right, 2 outs
Helfrick popped out to first, 3 outs
Tatom singled to left
Smeenk flied out to center, 1 out
Tatom advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt (E1)
Johnson struck out looking, 2 outs
Lorch struck out looking, 3 outs
5 strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings of work for McElvain. Strands a runner at third with less than two outs. Razorback pitching up to 10 Ks on the day.
6th Inning:
Robinett doubled to left
Souza struck out swinging, 1 out
Pompey flied out to center, Robinett to third, 2 outs
Turner struck out swinging, 3 outs
Arkansas is now 4-for-39 with runners in scoring position over the past 2+ games.
Cage McCloud struck out swinging, 1 out
Guerra struck out swinging, 2 outs
Shirey grounded out to short, 3 outs
Nice inning from McElvain, working back from 3-0 to strikeout Guerra
5th Inning:
Aden Lucas replaces Davis
Helfrick grounded out to third, 1 out
Kozeal grounded out to second, 2 outs
Niu grounded out to third, 3 outs
Hogs go down in order on 5 pitches. Hogs have just three singles since the 3-run first.
Smeenk struck out looking, 1 out
Johnson tripled to right
Lorch doubled down the left field line, Johnson scored, 3-1 Arkansas
Ethan McElvain replaces Lee
Slade McCloud grounded out to second, Lorch to third, 2 outs
Englett struck out looking, 3 outs
Final line on Lee: 4 1/3 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 5 K, 71 pitches (51 strikes), 15/18 first pitch strikes
4th Inning:
Pompey singled to center
Brendan Kleiman hits for Stewart
Kleiman struck out looking, 1 out
Pompey stole second
Brumbaugh grounded out to third, 2 outs
Ruiz struck out swinging, 3 outs
Turner replaces Kleiman in right, batting eighth
Guerra struck out looking, 1 out
Shirey hit by pitch
Tatom grounded out into a double play, third to second to first, Shirey out at second, 3 outs
3rd Inning:
Karsen Davis replaces Bass
Kozeal struck out swinging, 1 out
Niu singled to center
Robinett grounded out to the pitcher, Niu to second, 2 outs
Souza lined out to short, 3 outs
Lorch fouled out to first, 1 out
Slade McCloud singled to right
McCloud stole second
Englett grounded out to short, McCloud to third, 2 outs
Cage McCloud struck out swinging, 3 outs
A strikeout each of the first three innings for Lee. Nice debut for the freshman so far.
2nd Inning:
Pompey struck out swinging, 1 out
Stewart struck out swinging, 2 outs
Brumbaugh reached on a throwing error by the third baseman
Ruiz walked, Brumbaugh to second
Helfrick flied out to right, 3 outs
Shirey walked
Shirey advanced to second on a wild pitch
Tatom struck out swnging, 1 out
Smeenk grounded out to first, unassisted Shirey to third, 2 outs
Johnson flied out to right, 3 outs
1st Inning:
Ruiz singled up the middle
Helfrick walked, Ruiz to second
Kozeal singled to right, Ruiz to third, Helfrick to second
Niu singled to third, Ruiz scored, Helfrick to third, Kozeal to second, 1-0 Arkansas
Robinett grounds into a fielder’s choice, first to short, Helfrick scored, Niu out at second, Kozeal to third, 1 out, 2-0 Arkansas
Souza grounds into a fielder’s choice, Robinett out at second, unassisted, Kozeal scored, 2 outs, 3-0 Arkansas
Souza caught stealing second base, 3 outs
Lorch singled
Slade McCloud flied to left, 1 out
Englett hit by pitch, Lorch to second
Cage McCloud filed to right, 2 outs
Guerra struck out swinging, 3 outs
Nice work by Lee to strand two. Helfrick’s had a few timely mound visits early this season.
