Killian, Jackson sharp, strike out 14 combined

Arkansas starter Trey Killian delivers a pitch against Auburn during first the inning Friday, April 25, 2014, at Baum Stadium.
Arkansas starter Trey Killian delivers a pitch against Auburn during first the inning Friday, April 25, 2014, at Baum Stadium.

HOOVER, Ala. -- Arkansas received another quality pitching performance Thursday night in the first of a three-game SEC baseball series against Alabama, and the Razorbacks swung the bat well too in a 5-1 victory over the Crimson Tide at the Hoover Met.

Two Arkansas pitchers, starter Trey Killian and reliever Zach Jackson, combined for 14 strikeouts, allowed 8 hits, walked only 2 and stranded 10 runners. Offensively, the Razorbacks (27-18, 12-10 SEC) had four extra-base hits among their eight hits, including a two-run home run by second baseman Michael Bernal.

Put it all together and it was a solid way to start the weekend for a Razorback team that has won five consecutive SEC series since beginning conference play 1-5.

"We hit the ball hard all game," Bernal said. "Pretty much everybody in the lineup came in with good contact, so that's good to see. Trey was awesome on the mound. As always, he's going to come out and compete and compete with confidence."

One of the best things about the victory -- at least from an offensive standpoint -- was the Razorbacks didn't get rattled by missing a chance to open the scoring in the fifth inning. Arkansas had runners on the corners with nobody out, but Bernal was thrown out at second base after a strikeout by catcher Tucker Pennell and Alabama escaped the jam.

"Our team didn't get down about it," Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. "I thought Trey did a great job of going out there, having a quick 1-2-3 inning, got us back in the dugout. Next thing you know, we punch in a couple runs [and] got two more pretty quick."

The Razorbacks opened the sixth inning with a single by left fielder Joe Serrano and a double by center fielder Andrew Benintendi. Serrano scored on a ground ball by Tyler Spoon and Benintendi scooted home on a wild pitch.

Alabama (23-22, 8-14) countered with its only run in the bottom of the sixth inning -- on doubles by shortstop Mikey White and second baseman Kyle Overstreet -- but Arkansas answered quickly.

Shortstop Brett McAfee opened the seventh inning with a crisp double, and Bernal brought him home with a home run that sailed over the bullpen in left field.

"It felt great," said Bernal, who began the at-bat trying to sacrifice McAfee forward. "I'm going to be honest, it didn't feel too good after missing those two bunts. I knew Coach was going to be upset with me.

"I guess it paid off me for me to miss them. I hit a change-up up in the zone. It felt amazing."

That was more than Killian and Jackson needed for the victory. Killian allowed 7 hits and 1 earned run while tying a career high with 9 strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.

"I think I pitched pretty well," Killian said. "The thing that worked tonight was first-pitch strikes. I was able to get ahead in the count early.

"I figured out my slider in the bullpen. I haven't had it lately, but tonight it was working pretty well. I threw the change-up a lot more than I have lately, and the change-up was a key pitch for me tonight."

Jackson was equally effective, striking out five of the batters he faced, in his 2 2/3 innings of work to earn his fifth save.

Overall, the 14 strikeouts were the most for Razorback pitchers since striking out 14 against Ole Miss on March 26.

Sports on 05/01/2015

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