Razorbacks pull away from UAPB in midweek opener

Arkansas center fielder Christian Franklin runs toward home plate during a game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday, April 13, 2021, in Fayetteville.
Arkansas center fielder Christian Franklin runs toward home plate during a game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday, April 13, 2021, in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE — No. 1 Arkansas scored eight runs over its final two at-bats and pulled away from Arkansas-Pine Bluff for a 12-4 victory Tuesday at Baum-Walker Stadium.

The teams are scheduled to play again Wednesday at 4 p.m.

The Razorbacks scored five runs in the seventh inning and added a three-run home run by Christian Franklin in the eighth. Franklin went 3 for 4 with 1 walk and a career-high 6 RBI, and finished a triple shy of hitting for the cycle.

Arkansas (27-5) recorded six hits over the first two innings to take a 4-0 lead, but didn’t record another hit until Jacob Nesbit led off the seventh with a single. The Razorbacks scored five runs in the seventh on two hits, a bases-loaded walk by Franklin, a balk and a sacrifice fly to go ahead 9-1.

UAPB (2-20) recorded its biggest hit of the game in the top of the eighth when Dante Leach tripled with two outs to plate three runs. The Golden Lions loaded the bases with three walks against Arkansas reliever Gabe Starks, a freshman from Pine Bluff.

Arkansas right fielder Ethan Bates dove while trying to catch the ball off the bat of Leach, but the ball hopped in front of him and rolled to the wall. Leach went into third base standing up.

Zac White and Robert Moore walked to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning. Franklin’s team-leading ninth home run was to right field and gave the Razorbacks their NCAA-leading 55th home run of the season.

Arkansas reliever Heston Tole struck out three and stranded two base runners in the ninth inning. The Golden Lions had a base runner in every inning but two and stranded eight during the game.

UAPB starting pitcher Joel Barker (0-6) allowed 6 runs on 7 hits in a 6-inning start. Barker, who entered the game with a 14.40 ERA, retired 13 of 14 batters between the second and sixth innings.

Arkansas' Caleb Bolden (2-0) earned the win with a 5-inning start in which he allowed 1 run on 7 hits and 1 walk, and struck out 9.

The Razorbacks recorded 18 strikeouts for the third time this season. That is tied for the school record, which had been set twice before this year.

Zack Morris struck out four in two innings of relief. Morris pitched the sixth and seventh innings, which were UAPB’s only innings without a base runner.

EARLIER

Arkansas 12, UAPB 4 — FINAL

UAPB put two runners on base against Heston Tole in the ninth, but he stranded them with a strikeout of Humberto Maldonado. Tole struck out three in the inning.

Arkansas improved to 27-5, while UAPB fell to 2-20. The teams are scheduled to play again tomorrow at 4 p.m.

We'll have more on the game soon at WholeHogSports.com.

Arkansas 12, UAPB 4 — End 8th Inning

Christian Franklin hit his team-leading ninth home run to opposite-field right with no outs in the eighth inning. Zac White and Robert Moore both walked to lead off the inning.

Franklin is 3 for 4 and has walked once tonight, and he is a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. He has 6 RBI.

Arkansas was tied for the NCAA lead with 54 home runs coming into the game, so that likely gives the Razorbacks the lead for the time being.

Ethan Bates walked with two outs and was stranded when Jalen Battles struck out on a check swing.

Heston Tole will pitch the ninth inning for the Razorbacks.

Arkansas 9, UAPB 4 — Middle 8th Inning

Gabe Starks struggled in the eighth inning. He walked three batters — including the first two batters of the inning — and Dante Leach plated all of them on a triple to right field.

Right fielder Ethan Bates, who has played more infield, dove to try to catch the ball for the final out, but it hopped in front of him and rolled past him to the wall. That allowed Leach to go into third standing up. He was stranded there when Edwin Delacruz grounded out to end the half inning.

Starks threw 34 pitches in the eighth. Only 17 were for strikes.

Arkansas 9, UAPB 1 — End 7th Inning

The Razorbacks scored their fifth run of the inning on an infield single by Dylan Leach. That scored Charlie Welch. The inning ended when Jacob Nesbit grounded out to shortstop.

Gabe Starks, a Pine Bluff native, will pitch for Arkansas in the eighth inning. He has looked good the past couple of outings.

Arkansas 8, UAPB 1 — Bottom 7th Inning

Christian Franklin drew a bases-loaded walk, Brady Slavens recorded a sacrifice fly to score Zac White, Robert Moore scored from third base on a balk, and Charlie Welch hit a single to score Franklin, who stole second base and advanced to third on the balk.

There is still only one out in the inning.

Arkansas 4, UAPB 1 — Bottom 7th Inning

The Razorbacks have loaded the bases on Jacob Nesbit's single, Zac White was hit by a pitch and Robert Moore walked. Arkansas has sent UAPB to the bullpen twice. RHP Tony Horn is coming into the game with no outs.

Christian Franklin is at the plate.

Arkansas 4, UAPB 1 — Middle 7th Inning

Zack Morris worked another perfect inning. He struck out two more batters to bring his strikeout total to four.

He has retired all six hitters he has faced.

Arkansas 4, UAPB 1 — End 6th Inning

Joel Barker has retired 13 of the last 14 Arkansas hitters he has faced. Jalen Battles, Ethan Bates and Dylan Leach all grounded out in the sixth.

Barker entered this game with an ERA of over 14. He had given up 43 hits in 20 innings entering the game. Arkansas hit him well the first two innings, but hasn't recorded a hit since.

Arkansas 4, UAPB 1 — Middle 6th Inning

Zack Morris just had a nice initial inning out of the bullpen. He struck out two and got a fly out. It was UAPB's first time to go down in order tonight.

Joel Barker will continue to pitch for the Golden Lions in the sixth inning.

Arkansas 4, UAPB 1 — End 5th Inning

The Razorbacks are not hitting well after a strong start. Joel Barker has retired 10 of the last 11 hitters he has faced, including all three batters in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Christian Franklin and Brady Slavens flied out, and Charlie Welch struck out to end the inning.

Arkansas 4, UAPB 1 — Middle 5th Inning

UAPB has made this game more interesting than most assumed it would be. The Golden Lions scored a run against Caleb Bolden in the fifth. Kacy Higgins walked, stole second base and scored on an RBI double by Justin Rieschick.

It appeared UAPB might score another run when Karsten Vasquez singled with two outs, but Rieschick got a slow break out of second base and couldn't advance past third. Humberto Maldonado struck out to end the inning.

The strikeout was Bolden's ninth tonight. He has thrown 77 pitches and it would surprise to see him coming back for another inning.

His line as of now: 5 innings, 1 run, 7 hits, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts. He can be the winning pitcher.

Arkansas 4, UAPB 0 — End 4th Inning

Zac White was hit by a pitch with two outs and stranded when Robert Moore struck out.

Joel Barker has been effective with UAPB. He allowed six hits over the first two innings, but has allowed only White on base in the last two innings. He is a different pitcher than Arkansas is used to seeing.

Arkansas 4, UAPB 0 — Middle 4th Inning

Caleb Bolden gave up his fifth hit with two outs in the fourth when Timo Martin doubled. Dante Leach struck out to end the inning. It was Bolden's sixth strikeout.

That might be all for Bolden, who Dave Van Horn said before the game might not go more than four innings. Arkansas coaches have a few pitchers they would like to see pitch tonight.

Arkansas 4, UAPB 0 — End 3rd Inning

The Razorbacks are free swinging against soft-toss UAPB right hander Joel Barker. Charlie Welch and Ethan Bates flied out, and Jalen Battles struck out looking to end the third inning.

This game is moving along surprisingly fast — 45 minutes to play the first three innings.

Arkansas 4, UAPB 0 — Middle 3rd Inning

Caleb Bolden worked around a two-out single by Braelin Hence, who is 2 for 2 today. Humberto Maldonado flied out to right field to end the inning.

Bolden has allowed four hits and struck out four.

Arkansas 4, UAPB 0 — End 2nd Inning

Christian Franklin added a two-run single to score Jacob Nesbit and Zac White with two outs in the second inning. Nesbit reached on an infield single and White reached on a single.

The Razorbacks have six hits already. Franklin has two hits, including a first-inning double.

Arkansas 2, UAPB 0 — Middle 2nd Inning

Dante Leach singled to center field with one out in the second inning, but Jalen Battles and Robert Moore turned a 6-4-3 double play to get the Razorbacks off the field.

Caleb Bolden has given up three hits already. UAPB does not hit well, statistically.

Arkansas 2, UAPB 0 — End 1st Inning

Robert Moore and Christian Franklin led off with a single and double, respectively, and both scored runs in the first inning.

Moore scored on an usual play. After advancing to third on Franklin's double, he tagged from third on Brady Slavens' popup to the shortstop, who was playing just beyond the dirt on the grass behind second base. The shortstop, Dante Leach, was backpedaling as he caught the ball, so his momentum was taking him backward. Moore scored easily.

Franklin scored on a two-out single by Ethan Bates.

Arkansas 0, UAPB 0 — Middle 1st Inning

Caleb Bolden gave up a pair of hits, but UAPB made a base-running out that allowed Arkansas to get out of the inning without allowing a run.

Braelin Hence led off with a single and went to third on a one-out single by Humberto Maldonado, but Maldonado was caught in a rundown between first and second base, and Hence was not able to advance.

Nick Kreutzer grounded out to end the inning.

Pregame

Statistically, this is the biggest mismatch of the year for the Razorbacks.

Arkansas dwarfs UAPB in most statistical categories, perhaps most of which are wins. The Razorbacks are 26-5 and ranked No. 1 in the nation; the Golden Lions are 2-19 and have lost 11 straight games.

Both teams will throw pitchers tonight who have struggled in recent weeks. Arkansas right hander Caleb Bolden has been inconsistent since a great four-inning relief appearance against Texas in the second game of the season, while UAPB right hander Joel Barker enters with an ERA over 14.

There is a chance for rain later in the night, so that will be something to watch. It is a little cooler in Fayetteville today than it has been, and temperatures will be in the 50s for most of the game.

Today is the 25-year anniversary of the first game at Baum-Walker Stadium. In preparation for the anniversary, we took a look back at the ballpark's origins and 25 memorable moments at the stadium.

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