FAYETTEVILLE - Arkansas showed record-setting patience Tuesday night.
The Razorbacks set a school record by walking 19 times and scored the most runs since 2010 in a 20-2 victory over Alabama A&M in front of 1,968 at Baum Stadium.
Arkansas (12-5), which has won five consecutive games, had 16 walks in its final 6 at-bats, had 6 bases-loaded walks and finished with 14 hits. The Razorbacks scored seven runs in the fourth inning and nine in the seventh.
“We did a good job of taking a walk,” Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. “We did a good job of making [Alabama A&M] throw strikes, and they didn’t do a good job of it. We did a good job of taking some pitches and building a lead, and also got some big hits.”
WEDNESDAY'S TICKET
No. 15 Arkansas (12-5) vs. Alabama A&M (2-16)
WHEN: 3:05 p.m.
WHERE: Baum Stadium in Fayetteville
PITCHING MATCHUP: Alabama A&M RHP Allen Belue (0-1, 5-73) vs. Arkansas RHP Chris Oliver (0-0, 0.00)
The Bulldogs (2-16) led 1-0 through two innings, but Arkansas tied the game in the third on a sacrifice fly by Tyler Spoon. From there, Alabama A&M’s pitching became erratic and the Razorbacks took advantage.
“When you’re scoring runs and the game is pretty much in hand, you’re going to go out of the zone a little more,” Van Horn said of his offense. “We did a good job of being patient considering the situation.”
Willie Schwanke finished 3 for 4 with 2 walks, Jacob Mahan was 2 for 3 with 4 walks, Jordan Far-ris was 3 for 5 with 1 walk, and Brian Anderson was 2 for 5 with 2 walks and 4 RBI.
Spoon didn’t get a hit for the first time for the first time this season, ending his 16-game hitting streak. He was 0 for 4 with 2 walks had 3 RBI. Freshman Isaac Hellbusch, starting just his second game, was 2 for 5 with a two-run home run and a single in the fourth and had 5 RBI.
“We got a lot of hits from freshmen,” Van Horn said. “It was good to see.”
Dominic Ficociello, who has been battling a strained left oblique, made his Baum Stadium debut and was 1 for 5 batting right-handed.
“It was good to be back,” Ficociello said. “I was feeling pretty good, just a little bit off.”
Colin Poche started on the mound for Arkansas but worked just 12/ 3 innings. He gave up his first run of the season in the second inning and was replaced by Brandon Moore in the second after giving up three hits and three walks.
Moore worked two scoreless innings and Thomas Altimont (1-0) went 21/ 3 innings and earned the victory. Landon Simpson closed out the final three scoreless innings for his first save.
“Even though we had the game in control, Landon Simpson came in and looked like he really wanted to pitch,” Van Horn said.
SHORT HOPS
The Razorbacks’ 20 runs scored Tuesday against Alabama A&M were the most Arkansas had scored in a game since scoring 32 against Saint Louis on April 7, 2010. … The Razorbacks allowed only one run over the final seven innings Tuesday.
Sports, Pages 23 on 03/13/2013