Taccolini, Spanberger help Hogs snap streak

Arkansas right fielder Chad Spanberger watches as a towering three-run home run sails over the right field fence against Western Illinois Saturday, March 12, 2016, during the third inning of the Razorbacks' 9-3 win at Baum Stadium.
Arkansas right fielder Chad Spanberger watches as a towering three-run home run sails over the right field fence against Western Illinois Saturday, March 12, 2016, during the third inning of the Razorbacks' 9-3 win at Baum Stadium.

Dominic Taccolini tossed a 10-inning shutout and Chad Spanberger hit a go-ahead home run in the 10th to lift Arkansas over Kentucky 1-0 in Lexington, Ky., Friday night.

In his best outing of the season, Taccolini allowed only five hits and no walks while striking out a career-high 10 batters.

However, Kentucky starter Zack Brown matched him with nine scoreless innings of his own before allowing a leadoff home run to Spanberger in the 10th.

The home run gave the Razorbacks (23-15, 5-11 SEC) their first lead in 81 innings in conference play and helped snap their eight-game SEC losing streak.

It didn't come without a little drama, though.

Throwing just 98 pitches through the first nine innings, coach Dave Van Horn opted to leave his starter in the game in the 10th.

Riley Mahan and Tyler Marshall hit singles, sandwiched around a JaVon Shelby strikeout, to give the Wildcats (23-14, 9-7) runners on the corners.

Taccolini bounced back by striking out Dorian Hairston, but Marshall stole second on the play, meaning Kentucky had the game-tying and game-winning runs in scoring position. But on his 125th and final pitch of the day, Taccolini got Troy Squires to ground out to short.

While Brown didn't allow a run until Spanberger's home run, Arkansas had several chances to score.

Rick Nomura and Tucker Pennell hit back-to-back singles to start the third inning, but after a sacrifice bunt moved them to second and third, they were stranded there.

In the sixth, Clark Eagan reached on a leadoff single and advanced to third with two outs. He was stranded when Grant Koch grounded out to second.

Arkansas and Kentucky will return to action Saturday with two seven-inning games beginning at 11 a.m.

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