Hogs work late innings for win
Posted: April 30, 2010 at 9:34 p.m.
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas' bats worked into Auburn's bullpen and Drew Smyly worked the Tigers' hitters late for a 9-4 win Friday night in front of 6,818 at Baum Stadium.
The Razorbacks (35-8, 14-5 SEC) scored three runs in the fifth, sixth and eighth innings and overcame four errors to come back from a 4-0 deficit against Auburn relievers Michael Hurst and Zach Blatt.
Brett Eibner's three-run home run to left field pulled Arkansas within 4-3 in the fifth, and the Razorbacks found some consistency with their bats after struggling against starter Cory Luckie in the first four innings.
"The whole demeanor of our dugout took off" after Eibner's home run, Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said.
Matt Reynolds' third double of the season scored a run in the sixth, and Collin Kuhn stepped in after a pitching change and hit a two-run single off the first pitch by Blatt to push Arkansas ahead 6-4.
Meanwhile, Smyly worked a complete game and struck out nine batters for the win, his seventh of the season, and remained undefeated on the mound.
Auburn (28-15, 10-9) put the pressure on in the third after the Razorbacks had two unforced errors on back-to-back to plays, and Hunter Morris made the Hogs pay with two out by hitting a two-run single to left field. Trent Mummey hit a two-run shot to right field in the fifth inning to put the Tigers ahead 4-0.
Arkansas began to wear Luckie down in the fourth inning, getting two hits with two out but a strange play at third base ended the threat. Monk Kreder was called for the final out after third base coach Chris Curry was spotted by the home plate umpire interfering with the runner on a hit by James McCann. Kreder slipped while attempting to halt his run past the bag, and Curry apparently touched the runner on his way back to his feet.
The Razorbacks scored three runs in the eighth inning off a passed ball, safety squeeze by Bo Bigham and a Zack Cox single down the first-base line.
Arkansas and Auburn are scheduled to play Game 2 of the series Saturday at 2:05 p.m. The Hogs will send left-hander Randall Fant (3-0, 2.60 ERA) to the mound.
Read the Saturday edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and WholeHogSports.com for more on this story.
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