Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Commies Drop Series to Arkansas; Fall to 3-3 in SEC Play

The Commies had their toughest challenge on the field this past weekend down in Fayetteville since playing, and beating, Rice University. The Hogs took the series 2-1, winning the first game 8-7 in 10 innings and taking the Sunday contest 8-3. The Commies won the second game of the series, 6-3.

Friday:

In a game that was hyped as possibly the best SEC pitching match up of the season, neither David Price or Nick Schmidt had their A-game. Both men gave up five runs, walked four, and had eight K’s. Price gave up six hits in six innings and Schmidt gave up six hits in seven innings.

Shea Robin got the Commies on the board early with a two-run single, scoring both Alvarez, who had walked, and Ryan Flaherty, who doubled. The Razorbacks charged back in the bottom of the inning on a RBI single by Logan Forsythe and a RBI double by Jeff Nutt.

The Hogs took the lead the second off two Commie errors, plating three runs to make it 5-2. Brian Walker and Sean Jones scored when Shea Robin’s pick off attempt at third sailed high into the outfield. Jeff Nutt followed with his second RBI single of the game.

The Commies tied the game with three runs in the third. Dominic de la Osa singled and Ryan Flaherty reached on a throwing error by Schmidt. She Robin walked and Matt Meingasner singled to left to score de la Osa. Another Schmidt error scored Robin and Andrew Giobbi added a sac fly to account for the inning’s third run and tied the game.

Stephen Shao gave up two runs in relief to the Hogs in the bottom of the seventh to give the Hogs a 7-5 lead. Doubles by Forsythe and Nutt scored the first run and Tim Smallings had a RBI single for the second run. For the second time in the game, the Commies came back the next inning. Ryan Davis led off with a pinch-hit single and one out later moved to second on a single by Brad French. David Macias then bombed a double into the gap in left-center to bring plate Davis and then Alex Feinberg followed up with a sac fly to score Davis.

The Commies pushed the game to extra innings after Weathers got them out of a bases loaded jam with one out in the bottom of the ninth. Brian Walker fouled out on a squeeze bunt attempt and closer Weathers struck out Jake Dugger looking after starting with a 3-0 count to send the game into extra innings.

The Commies went scoreless in the top of the 10th and in the bottom of the frame, Arkansas rallied for the winning run as Sean Jones scored from second on Logan Forsythe’s sac fly, which David Macias caught on the run in right-center. Jones tagged up from second and went home as Alex Feinberg's throw from the cut off spot was misplayed at home plate to allow the game-winning run to score.

Jess Todd picked up the win after pitching 3 innings of relief to bring his record to 2-2 on the year. Weathers picked up his first loss of the season after pitching 2.2 innings of work and gave up the winning run on one hit.

Saturday:



The Commies evened the series on Saturday rallying from a 2-1 deficit with four runs in the eighth, fittingly highlighted by an inside-the-park home run by Pedro Alvarez.


The Commies jumped out to an early lead when Alvarez scored after singling with two outs. He then advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on Ryan Flaherty's RBI single down the left field line. The Razorbacks tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second on a two-out RBI single by Tim Smalling that scored Logan Forsythe who led off the inning with a walk and stole second.Arkansas took a 2-1 lead in the fourth on the strength of a solo homer by Forsythe, his fourth of the year.

Kurt Lipton began the rally with a double to left center in the eighth. David Macias walked and Alex Feinberg then grounded to third baseman Logan Forsythe, whose toss to second base sailed into the outfield, allowing Lipton to score and knot the game at 2 all. Arkansas starter Duke Welker bounced a pitch to the plate allowing Macia and Feinberg to advance.


Alvarez then stepped up and hit a towering shot into the gusting wind that right-fielder Brad Secrist lost in the sky. All three runners scored on Alvarez' first collegiate inside the park homer and ninth round-tripper of the year. VU added an insurance run in the ninth when Shea Robin, who singled to lead off the inning, scored on a RBI single by pinch hitter Brad French to make it 6-2.

Nick Christiani out dueled Arkansas' Duke Welker after allowing two runs on five hits in 7.1 innings of work to move to 5-1 on the year. He walked five and struck out three before giving way to Mike Minor in the eighth. Duke Welker (4-1) dropped his first decision of the season after giving up five runs, one earned, on five hits in eight innings with five strikeouts and a walk.

Sunday:

The Hogs’ Brian Walker was the star of the day, unfortunately. He hit a grand slam to cap a five-run, fifth inning, propelling the Hogs to a 8-3 win Sunday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville. Jeff Nutt had a RBI single for the first run in the fifth and Walker highlighted the big inning with the grand-slam off of reliever Stephen Shao.

The Razorbacks took a 1-0 lead in the first when Casey Coon hit a two-out single and later scored on an RBI single by Jeff Nutt.Brett Jacobson was knocked out of the game in the bottom of the second, scoring two runs to make it 3-0. Walker smacked a RBI double to score the first run. The Razorbacks proceeded to load the bases with one out before Cody Crowell came on in relief. Ben Tschepikow singled to left to score Walker for the second run in the frame before Crowell got Casey Coon to ground into a double play to end the inning.

Vanderbilt rallied for two runs in the top of the third to cut the lead to 3-2. Brad French doubled down the left field line with one out and David Macias walked. Dominic de la Osa and Pedro Alvarez hit back to back RBI singles. The Commies scored their final run in the sixth when Matt Meingasner came home on a RBI single by Kurt Lipton.

Jess Todd picked up his second win of the series after allowing only one run on four scattered hits, over six innings of relief work. Brett Jacobson moved to 4-1 on the season after picking up his first loss of the season. He allowed three runs off five hits after only 1.1 innings of work.

The Commies fell to No. 5 in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll, the oldest college baseball poll; fell to No. 3 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll; and fell to No. 4 in the USA TODAY/ESPN Top 25 Coaches' Poll; fell to No. 3 in the Baseball America poll, and lastly, fell to No. 4 in the Rivals.com poll.

For our purposes, the Commies are now the Number three ranked team in the nation.

3 comments:

Boyer in the District said...

BOOYA!

Anonymous said...

...homer. Hope you enjoy watching Black and Gold in Omaha instead of burgundy and white.

Anonymous said...

Hope to enjoy watching VU in Omaha instead of American Idol

American Idol is for middle aged housewives to gossip about in the breakroom at the office near the mall near the interstate.