Martha Swearingen
Fayetteville, Ark.– No. 18 Arkansas swept a two-game midweek series with the Mizzou Tigers after a 2-0 win Wednesday in front of 3,047 at Baum Stadium.
The Razorback offense was led by senior third baseman Matt Reynolds with one hit and two RBIs while junior second baseman Jacob Mahan added two hits.
“We hit just enough, we pitched good enough, and we won,” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. “It feels good to win four games in a row.”
The Tigers were led by first baseman Andreas Plackis, third baseman Connor Mach, right fielder Jake Ivory and second baseman Dillon Everett with one hit each.
The series closer was occupied by five scoreless innings until senior third baseman Matt Reynolds’ two-RBI double down the left field line drove home sophomore first baseman Dominic Ficociello and redshirt sophomore designated hitter Jimmy Bosco for a 2-0 lead.
“He did a good job,” Van Horn said. “I think that’s probably the first game of the season he hasn’t started. We were going to give him a little time off today, but told him to be ready to go. He was ready, got a good pitch. Big RBI double, and that’s all we needed.”
“I was just hunting the fast ball, trying to hit early in the count,” Reynolds added.
The Razorbacks almost scored in the first and fourth innings before putting their only two runs on the board in the fifth. Bosco’s eleventh double of the season advanced Mahan to third, but Bigham flied out to close the first inning.
In the fourth, Bates stole to third on a wild pitch while Wise was up to bat, who struck out to end the inning.
Left-handed redshirt junior Trent Daniel opened the Hogs’ final game with Mizzou. Daniel pitched five innings and allowed two hits while striking out four, walking one and hitting three players.
“They were sitting on breaking balls,” Daniel said. “ I threw, I think, 80 percent fast balls today, trying to go in and out on the hitters today.”
Daniels was relieved by freshman left-hander Michael Gunn in the sixth inning. Gunn struck out one and walked two in his 1.2 inning appearance.
Right-handed sophomore Colby Suggs came in for Gunn during the seventh and struck out the only batter he faced.
Sophomore right-hander Barrett Astin made his 11th appearance of the season as the game’s closer. Astin allowed one hit during the scoreless evening.
The Razorbacks will play at home again this weekend while hosting No. 5 South Carolina in a three-game series at Baum Stadium.
We’re ready to get back into SEC play,” Van Horn said.
Arkansas Sweeps Missouri with 2-0 Victory
