To say the Arkansas vs South Carolina series has been frustrating for the Razorbacks’ hitters would be an understatement.
They seemed to get going a little bit with four hits, including a solo home run by Peyton Stovall, in the ninth inning of their 6-3 loss to the Gamecocks in the first half of Saturday’s doubleheader, but they still left the bases loaded with a chance to extend the game.
Prior to the ninth, Arkansas had been just 12 for 60 (.200) with four total runs in 17 innings against the Gamecocks. It’s been even worse with runners in scoring position, going 2 for 25 in those scenarios, including the ninth inning, and neither of those hits drove in a run. Incredibly, the Razorbacks have stranded 27 runners through two games.
If that continues into the nightcap – and rubber match – at 4:15 p.m. CT, the No. 2 Razorbacks will be in serious danger of dropping their second straight SEC series after winning the opener. They did the same thing last week at Alabama.
Follow along below for some updates and highlights from the Arkansas vs South Carolina finale below…
(READ NEXT: Check out our in-depth recap of Arkansas baseball’s tight win over South Carolina on Friday)
LIVE UPDATES – Arkansas vs South Carolina (Game 3)
Pregame Tidbits
South Carolina has named right-hander Dylan Eskew as its Game 3 starter. He is 2-2 with a 4.74 ERA and 31 strikeouts to 13 walks in 38 innings. Opponents are hitting .228 against him. His numbers aren’t nearly as good in SEC play, though, as he owns an 8.36 ERA and is allowing a .322 batting average.
T-2nd: Arkansas 3, South Carolina 0
Arkansas took advantage of several mistakes by the Gamecocks to strike first. It started when Souza reached on a throwing error by the shortstop. Holt was hit by a pitch in a full count and Lovich walked to load the bases, which has been a dangerous spot for the Hogs this weekend. Sure enough, Wagner hit a tailor-made double play ball to short.
Thankfully for Arkansas, the relay throw to second was off line and Wagner was able to reach on the fielder’s choice, giving him an RBI and starting the scoring. Given new life, Holt raced home on a wild pitch and then Rowland hit an RBI double down the left field line, narrowly missing out on a home run, to make it 3-0.
B-3rd: Arkansas 3, South Carolina 1
The Gamecocks put together a two-out rally against Tygart in the third. Brinling drew a walk and then scored on Messina’s double down the left field line.
B-5th: Arkansas 3, South Carolina 2
Back-to-back doubles into the right field corner by Ellis and Brinling led to another run for South Carolina, but Tygart bounced back with back-to-back strikeouts.
T-6th: Arkansas 4, South Carolina 2
With two outs, Holt delivered a clutch RBI single to drive in Diggs, who reached on a ground-rule double, so the Hogs immediately got that run back.
T-7th: Arkansas 9, South Carolina 2
After scoring just five total runs in the first two games of the series, Arkansas matched that with a five-spot in the seventh inning. The first five batters reached and the Hogs sent 10 to the plate.
It started with a leadoff walk by Rowland, who was replaced by Will Edmunson as a pinch runner. Stovall followed with a single and Edmunson went first-to-third on the play. That set up yet another run-scoring wild pitch. A single by McLaughlin put runners on the corners again and Aloy delivered an RBI single to right. Diggs then drove in two with a double, making it 8-2.
Souza struck out for the first out of the inning, but a wild pitch moved Diggs to third and Holt brought him home with an RBI single to cap the scoring.
B-8th: Arkansas 9, South Carolina 5
Will McEntire threw a scoreless seventh inning, but ran into trouble in the eighth. It started with a leadoff walk of Messina and included an infield single by Noland. With one out, Blake Jackson hit a pinch-hit RBI double and Reeves followed with an RBI single. A sacrifice fly by LeCroy capped the scoring in the inning.
B-9th: Arkansas 9, South Carolina 6
Gage Wood entered for the ninth inning and promptly gave up a leadoff double to Ellis. He moved to third on a ground out and scored on another grounder, but on that one, Aloy threw low to first for an E6. However, Wood bounced back to get Petry to foul out and then struck out Noland to end the game.
FINAL – Arkansas 9, South Carolina 6
Starting Lineups
| South Carolina Baseball | Arkansas Baseball |
|---|---|
| 1. Austin Brinling – CF | 1. Peyton Stovall – 2B |
| 2. Cole Messina – DH | 2. Ben McLaughlin – 1B |
| 3. Ethan Petry – RF | 3. Wehiwa Aloy – SS |
| 4. Parker Noland – 2B | 4. Kendall Diggs – RF |
| 5. Kennedy Jones – LF | 5. Nolan Souza – 3B |
| 6. Dalton Reeves – C | 6. Peyton Holt – CF |
| 7. Talmadge LeCroy – 3B | 7. Ross Lovich – LF |
| 8. Gavin Casas – 1B | 8. Jack Wagner – DH |
| 9. Lee Ellis – SS | 9. Parker Rowland – C |
| Pitching: RHP Dylan Eskew | Pitching: RHP Brady Tygart |
How to Watch Arkansas vs South Carolina (Game 3)
Date: Saturday, April 20
Location: Founders Park (Columbia, S.C.)
First Pitch: 4:15 p.m. CT
TV/Stream: SEC Network-Plus
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