FAYETTEVILLE — Left-hander Mason Molina will make his debut with the Razorbacks in Game 3 of the Arkansas vs James Madison series Sunday afternoon.
The Texas Tech transfer can help Arkansas clinch the four-game series, as it won the first two games, beating the Dukes 7-5 on Friday and 15-5 on Saturday. First pitch on Sunday is set for 1 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed on SEC Network-Plus.
Last season, Molina had a 3.67 ERA with 108 strikeouts in 83 1/3 innings for the Red Raiders, but he struggled in his preseason scrimmage outings in the three weeks leading up to the season. He was virtually unhittable in the fall, but has had a problem with walks throughout the offseason since arriving in Fayetteville.
His command will certainly be something to watch in Game 3. Best of Arkansas Sports will post inning-by-inning updates, highlights and states below…
LIVE UPDATES – Arkansas vs James Madison (Game 3)
Pregame Tidbits
- James Madison starting pitcher Ryan Murphy was also a starter for the Dukes last year. He posted a 4.89 ERA and 1.46 ERA with 51 strikeouts in 70 innings last season.
- Arkansas made several changes to its starting lineup. Most notably, freshman Nolan Souza and Missouri transfer Ross Lovich are making their first starts with the Razorbacks. It’ll be Souza’s debut, while Lovich played as a pinch runner on Friday.
- Jack Wagner is back in the lineup and making his first start at first base, which moved Ben McLaughlin to DH. Hudson White is back at catcher.
T-1st: Arkansas 0, James Madison 0
- Molina gets things started with a strikeout of Mancini. 1 out.
- He followed that up with a four-pitch walk to Trimble.
- Dooley picks up where he left off yesterday, roping a single into left. Trimble went first to third on the play, putting runners on the corners.
- Nice battle by O’Donnell, but he eventually went down swinging. 2 outs.
- Dooley stole second without a throw during Calabrese’s at bat. Arkansas let him take the base.
- Calabrese looked at strike three to end the inning and strand runners on second and third.
B-1st: Arkansas 2, James Madison 0
- On the second pitch of the inning, White ripped a double to left-center. He’s doubled in three straight ABs.
- It looked like Diggs might also hit a double to left-center, but his line drive hung up long enough for the center fielder to run under it and catch it for the out. 1 out.
- During Aloy’s at bat, White got caught too far off the bag and initially stumbled trying to get back when Murphy spun for a pickoff. He briefly got caught in a rundown, but the second baseman chased him down. 2 outs.
- The base running mistake costs the Hogs a run, as Aloy singled to left a couple pitches later.
- McLaughlin appeared to end the inning with a high fly ball to left, but the positioning of the fielders made it tough to get to. The left fielder made a diving attempt, but didn’t get a glove on it. It fell for what has to be ruled a double and Aloy scored from first. JMU tried to throw it home to get him, allowing McLaughlin to take third on the play.
- Wagner followed with an RBI single through the left side.
- Lovich followed with a walk.
- Holt gave it a ride the other way, but it was caught just in front of the track in right. That ends the inning after 24 pitches.
T-2nd: Arkansas 2, James Madison 0
- Molina struck out Steinberg on three pitches to open the second inning. 1 out.
- Schiavone came up swinging and put the ball in play, but it was a first-pitch ground out to third. 2 outs.
- Peifer chased a pitch out of the zone for strike three. That’s five strikeouts through two innings for Molina, who has thrown 32 pitches.
B-2nd: Arkansas 2, James Madison 0
- In his first collegiate at bat, Souza crushed a line drive into center. The center fielder made a diving catch to rob him of a hit, but he hit it 103 mph off the bat. 1 out.
- Wilmsmeyer hit a chopper up the middle that Murphy got a glove on, but that slowed it down and meant the second baseman had no chance of getting the speedster at first. It’s an infield single for the Missouri transfer.
- The inning ends on a strike ’em out, throw ’em out. White struck out and Wilmsmeyer was thrown out trying to steal second.
T-3rd: Arkansas 2, James Madison 0
- Langley couldn’t check his swing and goes down swinging. 1 out.
- Mancini worked the count full before also going down swinging. 2 outs.
- It wasn’t on four pitches like his first time up, as he took a strike in a 3-0 count, but Trimble walked on five pitches to give JMU a two-out base runner.
- During Dooley’s at bat, Trimble pulled off a delayed steal. White’s throw got past Aloy and Holt, but Trimble had to stay put.
- Trimble was stranded in scoring position, though, as Dooley grounded out to second to end the inning. Molina has seven strikeouts and is up to 54 pitches.
B-3rd: Arkansas 2, James Madison 0
- Diggs gets things started with an opposite-field double to the left field wall in a 2-2 count.
- Aloy put a good swing on it, but his 105 mph line drive was right to the center fielder. 1 out.
- In a full count, McLaughlin drew a walk.
- In another full count, Wagner grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
T-4th: Arkansas 2, James Madison 2
- For the third time in four innings, Molina starts an inning with a three-pitch strikeout. This time O’Donnell was the victim. 1 out.
- Calabrese followed with a first-pitch chopper to third and it bounced over Holt’s head for a single.
- Molina bounced back by striking out Steinberg in a full count. 2 outs.
- During Schiavone’s at bat, Calabrese swiped second.
- Schiavone eventually walked in a full count, putting runners on first and second and prompting a mound visit from Hobbs.
- The visit didn’t seem to work, as Peifer ripped a double into the left field corner. It scored two runs to tie it up. That’s it for Molina, who receives a well-deserved ovation as he left the field.
- The new pitcher for Arkansas is left-hander Stone Hewlett, the Kansas transfer.
- Hewlett did his job, striking out pinch hitter Ike Schmidly to end the inning.
- Molina’s final line: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 9 K, 72 pitches (45 strikes)
B-4th: Arkansas 2, James Madison 2
- Lovich led off the inning with a single to right, but he tried stretching it into a double. O’Donnell made a perfect throw and JMU got the tag to get him. 1 out.
- Holt grounded out to first unassisted. 2 outs.
- With two outs, Souza ripped another line drive. This time it had a 108 mph exit velocity and it got over the left fielder’s head for a double. That prompts a mound visit by JMU.
- In a full count, Wilmsmeyer walks. Ball four was borderline. That’s it for Murphy.
- The new pitcher for JMU is right-hander Joe Vogatsky, who is the Dukes’ best pitcher. He was their closer last year.
- In a full count, White walked to load the bases.
- With two outs and the bases loaded, Diggs flied out to right to end the inning. He just missed a fastball right down the middle.
T-5th: Arkansas 2, James Madison 2
- Now pitching for Arkansas is freshman right-hander Gabe Gaeckle.
- Gaeckle’s first career pitch was a 97 mph fastball for a strike. He eventually got Mancini to look at strike three. 1 out.
- Trimble was first-pitch swinging and hit a chopper to the right of the mound. Gaeckle made a great play to field it and then tossed to first for the out. 2 outs.
- Gaeckle grooved a 97 mph fastball right down the middle and Dooley hit it back up the middle for a two-out single.
- That was all the damage, though, as O’Donnell lined out to center to end the inning.
B-5th: Arkansas 2, James Madison 2
- Vogatsky fooled Aloy, getting him to swing way out in front of an off speed pitch for a strikeout. 1 out.
- McLaughlin also went down swinging. 2 out.
- Wagner fouled off several pitches before finally hitting a pop up behind the plate that the catcher caught in foul territory. That ends the inning.
T-6th: Arkansas 2, James Madison 2
- Gaeckle struck out Calabrese on three pitches to start the sixth. 1 out.
- Steinberg made solid contact, but his line drive was caught by Lovich in left. 2 outs.
- Schiavone also lined out, but Diggs had to cover some ground to catch it in right. That ends the inning. Gaeckle has now thrown 22 pitches in two innings of work.
B-6th: Arkansas 2, James Madison 2
- In an 0-2 count, Lovich hit a high fly ball to straight away center. It was easily caught, but had a 99 mph exit velocity and traveled 361 feet. If he pulls that, it’s a homer.
- Holt followed with a grounder to short. Calabrese fielded it and made a throw to first. Holt was called out, but it was close and Arkansas challenged it. After replay review, the call was confirmed. 2 outs.
- In a full count, Souza went down swinging to end the inning. Vogatsky has thrown 37 pitches in 2 1/3 innings.
T-7th: James Madison 6, Arkansas 2
- Peifer laid down a perfect bunt on Gaeckle’s first pitch. Holt fielded it cleanly and made an accurate throw to first, but it wasn’t in time. It’s a bunt single for Peifer.
- A wild pitch moved Peifer to second.
- Schmidly was still squaring to bunt and Gaeckle couldn’t find the strike zone. He walked, putting runners on first and second with the top of the lineup coming up.
- Mancini follow with a bunt and it was another good one. Gaeckle fielded it and made an accurate throw to first. The umpire called him out, but JMU challenged the call. It was overturned, turning it into another bunt single. The bases are loaded with Trimble coming up.
- That’s it for Gaeckle. The new pitcher is right-hander Jake Faherty. Big spot for him season debut.
- Trimble delivers for JMU. In a 1-2 count, he hit a jam shot up the middle on a pitch that was actually inside. It scored one run to give the Dukes the lead.
- In a full count, Dooley hit a high fly ball to center. It was deep enough for a sacrifice fly, but Wagner cut off the throw home and tried to get Mancini advancing to third, but his throw got by Holt. The E3 allowed another run to score and moved Trimble all the way to third.
- The error set up an RBI ground out to short by O’Donnell.
- Faherty struck out Calabrese to end the inning.
B-7th: James Madison 6, Arkansas 3
- Wilmsmeyer goes down swinging to start the seventh. 1 out.
- White flies out to right in a full count. 2 outs.
- Diggs kept the inning alive with a double to right-center. Vogatsky had retired nine straight before that.
- Aloy delivered with an RBI double to about the same spot. There was a close play at second and JMU challenged the call. After review, the call stands – safe.
- Despite a mid-AB mound visit, Vogatsky walked McLaughlin on five pitches.
- Wagner is hit by a pitch to load the bases.
- Lovich is jammed and pops out to shallow right, caught by the second baseman. It’s the second time Arkansas has left the bases loaded today.
T-8th: James Madison 6, Arkansas 3
- Freshman right-hander Tate McGuire is now pitching, making his collegiat debut.
- McGuire strikes out Steinberg on a 94 mph fastball in a full count. 1 out.
- In another full count, Schiavone walked.
- McGuire got up 0-2 against Peifer, but threw two straight balls and then plunked him. That prompts a mound visit from Hobbs. Christian Foutch is getting loose in the bullpen.
- On the first pitch, Schmidly flied out to center. 2 outs.
- Mancini fell behind 1-2, but ended up walking to load the bases. That’s it for McGuire. The new pitcher for Arkansas is right-hander Christian Foutch.
- Trimble hit a grounder to short and Aloy fielded it deep in the hole. He threw to second for the force and the call on the field was out to end the inning. It was reviewed and stood. Huge play for Arkansas.
B-8th: James Madison 6, Arkansas 3
- Vogatsky is still on the mound for JMU. He’s thrown 67 pitches through 3 1/3 innings.
- Holt swung at the first pitch and grounded out to short. 1 out.
- Souza took a ball, but then grounded out to first on the second pitch he saw. 2 outs.
- In a full count, Wilmsmeyer flied out to center. That was a nine-pitch inning for Vogatsky.
T-9th: James Madison 7, Arkansas 3
- Foutch struck out Dooley to start the ninth.
- Sheesh. O’Donnell gave JMU an insurance run in the form of a 424-foot bomb that left the bat with an exit velocity of 109 mph and launch angle of 29.9 degrees. It landed in the Hog Pen and he admired it.
- Calabrese followed with a chopper to the left side. Aloy fielded it, took a second and then fired wide to first. It’s ruled a single.
- A wild pitch moved Calabrese to second.
- Steinberg then hit a single through the right side. For some reason, Calabrese hesitated as he rounded third and then took off for home. Diggs’ throw home got him to prevent another run from scoring. 2 outs.
- In a full count, Schiavone looked at strike three to end the inning.
B-9th: James Madison 7, Arkansas 3
- With Vogatsky still on the mound, White drew a four-pitch walk. That’s it for the right-hander, who was phenomenal for JMU. The new pitcher is right-hander Jackson Logar, who pitched two innings on Friday.
- In a full count, Diggs hit a grounder to second. JMU got the force at second, but Diggs beat the throw at first. 1 out.
- Diggs tried advancing on a pitch that got away from the catcher, but Schiavone recovered and gunned him down at second. 2 outs.
- Aloy lined out to second to end the game.
FINAL: James Madison 7, Arkansas 3
Starting Lineups
| James Madison Baseball | Arkansas Baseball |
|---|---|
| 1. Mike Mancini – 2B | 1. Hudson White – C |
| 2. Fenwick Trimble – CF | 2. Kendall Diggs – RF |
| 3. Ryan Dooley – LF | 3. Wehiwa Aloy – SS |
| 4. Brendan O’Donnell – RF | 4. Ben McLaughlin – DH |
| 5. Coleman Calabrese – SS | 5. Jack Wagner – 1B |
| 6. Jacob Steinberg – 1B | 6. Ross Lovich – LF |
| 7. Jason Schiavone – C | 7. Peyton Holt – 3B |
| 8. Wyatt Peifer – 3B | 8. Nolan Souza – 2B |
| 9. Kyle Langley – DH | 9. Ty Wilmsmeyer – CF |
| Pitching: RHP Ryan Murphy | Pitching: LHP Mason Molina |
How to Watch Arkansas vs James Madison
Date: Sunday, Feb. 18
Location: Baum-Walker Stadium (Fayetteville, Ark.)
TV/Stream: SEC Network-Plus
Odds/Betting Line: Arkansas, -3.5 | O/U 15.5 (BetSaracen)
Scores Around the SEC on Saturday
- South Carolina 11, Miami (OH) 4
- Missouri 12, Cal Poly 8
- Kentucky 3, SC Upstate 0
- LSU 2, Central Arkansas 0
- Auburn 6, Eastern Kentucky 1
- Texas A&M 12, McNeese State 2
- FAU 5, Vanderbilt 4
- Alabama 15, Manhattan 0
- Georgia 17, UNC Asheville 5
- Air Force 3, Mississippi State 2
- Ole Miss 5, Hawaii 2
- Oklahoma 5, Tennessee 1 (10 inn.)
- Hawaii 18, Ole Miss 2
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Check out our recaps from Games 1 and 2 of the series:
More coverage of Arkansas baseball from BoAS…
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