FOOTBALL
Hogs announce special football dates
The University of Arkansas designated its home football schedule for special events Wednesday, including its homecoming game Nov. 4 against Coastal Carolina.
The season opener in Little Rock against Florida A&M on Aug. 31 has been designated as the team's Military Appreciation game.
The Hall of Honor weekend will take place the next week, capped by the Sept. 9 game against TCU at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
In addition to the annual Southwest Classic on Sept. 23 against Texas A&M in Arlington, Texas, the Razorbacks will host Parents Weekend and the on-campus Military Appreciation game Sept. 30 against New Mexico State and senior day on Nov. 25 against Missouri. The senior finale against Missouri is subject to being moved to Nov. 24.
-- Tom Murphy
BASEBALL
ASU takes hard-luck loss
Garrett Rucker was 3 for 4 with a home run and 3 RBI, while Jeremy Brown was 3 for 4 with 2 doubles and 1 RBI, but Arkansas State (4-2) allowed 7 runs in the top of the eighth inning Wednesday in a 10-9 loss to Mississippi Valley State (1-4) at Tomlinson Stadium in Jonesboro.
ASU took a 5-3 lead after scoring three runs in the fifth inning on a double by Brown and Rucker's two-run home run. The Red Wolves added four runs in the seventh inning on a two-run double down the left-field line by Justin Felix, an RBI single from Rucker and an RBI single from Casey Vaughan.
Miscues and timely hitting aided Mississippi Valley State's rally in the eighth inning. Two runs scored on ASU throwing errors and another scored on a bases-loaded walk. Caleb Lindsey, who finished 1 for 4, also had a three-run triple to right-center field for MVSU.
Chris McWright finished 3 for 5 with a double and 2 RBI to lead the Delta Devils, while Aaron Barkley and Arrington Smith were both 2 for 4. Smith (1-1) earned the pitching victory after allowing 1 walk and 1 hit batter in 21/3 innings. Tyler Mitzel (0-1) took the loss after allowing 1 run on 1 hit with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts in 2 innings.
UALR remains winless
Three UALR errors and a three-run home run from Raphael Gladu in the eighth inning gave Louisiana Tech a 4-2 victory over the Trojans on Wednesday at J.C. Love Field in Ruston, La.
The Bulldogs (4-0) scored in the bottom of the first when Jordan Washam scored on a throwing error by Trojans first baseman Nik Gifford to take a 1-0 lead. Hunter Owens hit a two-run home run to center field in the seventh inning to give UALR a 2-1 lead, but Louisiana Tech took the lead for good in the eighth.
The Trojans (0-4) managed just six hits and didn't have a player with more than one. Brent Diaz went 2 for 4 with 1 run scored to lead the Bulldogs, who had 7 hits.
Harding loses again at home
Harding (3-7) has not won in four home games this season after falling 6-5 to Union (Tenn.) on Wednesday at Jerry Moore Field in Searcy.
Trailing 6-3 going into the bottom of the ninth inning, Harding used two Union errors and a hit batter to load the bases with no outs. After a strikeout, Union second baseman Austin Orr dove on Chris Taylor's ground ball up the middle to get a force out at second base. Shortstop Caleb Demarigny tried to complete the double play, but his throwing error allowed Brooks Pitaniello and Ben Brauss to score on the play and cut the lead to 6-5. Taylor stole second base but was stranded there as Union closer Ryne Roper got a strikeout to end the game.
UAM suffers road loss
Arkansas-Monticello jumped out to a 3-0 lead Wednesday, but Mississippi College scored six runs in the third inning on the way to a 10-5 victory in Clinton, Miss.
Brian Ray hit a two-run home run that gave the Boll Weevils (3-8) an early 2-0 lead. Lathan McFadden added an RBI single to extend the lead to 3-0 before the Choctaws (2-10) took the lead for good in the third inning. Ray finished with 2 hits, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI. McFadden and Geoffrey King also had two hits each for the Boll Weevils.
Sports on 02/23/2017