OMAHA, Neb. -- Arkansas' fate at this College World Series was sealed by its inability to record enough timely hits.
The Razorbacks had runners on base in 16 of 18 innings at the tournament, but scored three runs in each of their close losses to Virginia and Miami.
Arkansas gave itself plenty of chances to score early in innings with its leadoff batters reaching base 13 times during the two games. Those players scored four runs, however, as the Razorbacks struggled with their bunt game and hit into four double plays.
"We had our shots," Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. "We were one hit away both games here. We had our chances to break open both games, but we couldn't get that one big hit. We had our chances, but we couldn't get that lead late."
Arkansas went 3 of 14 with runners in scoring position in its season-ending loss to Miami. The Razorbacks had multiple chances to take the lead in the eighth and ninth innings but never could.
Arkansas stranded 11 base runners, including six over the final three innings.
"Once again, we had runners on early and we couldn't really get them over and get them in," said Arkansas first baseman Clark Eagan, who went 2 of 4 Monday. "That ended up really hurting us in the outcome of this ballgame."
Arkansas put its first three batters on base in the eighth inning, tying the game on Brett McAfee's RBI single. The hit put runners on first and third base with no outs, but Eagan popped up to the shortstop in shallow center field, holding the runner at third base.
Michael Bernal followed by hitting into his third double play in two games, ending the inning.
"That hurt," Van Horn said. "We needed to come out of that inning with at least a one-run lead and we didn't. Give credit to Miami's pitchers. They did a good job.
"We got one out of that, but we should have gotten more."
The Razorbacks had another chance to take the lead in the ninth inning after Carson Shaddy led off the inning with a single. Arkansas eventually loaded the bases with two outs, but once again failed to break through and take the lead.
Rick Nomura, who reached in his first four at-bats, grounded out to second to end the threat.
"I thought he put together a pretty good at-bat," Van Horn said. "He just hit it right at the second baseman. If he hits it one way or the other, he's got a shot to get it through. That's kind of the way it works."
The Razorbacks finished the College World Series 4 for 23 with runners in scoring position and stranded 17 runners. Arkansas was 5 for 21 with two outs in an inning.
Arkansas scored a combined 10 runs in its final four games after combining to score 39 runs in the first four games of the NCAA postseason.
Sports on 06/16/2015