FAYETTEVILLE– No. 3 Arkansas (37-13, 18-8 SEC) could not get the bats going as No. 6 South Carolina (37-13, 15-10) pulled out a 3-1 win on Saturday night at Baum-Walker Stadium to force a decisive game three for the series.
First pitch in tomorrow’s rubber game is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, May 14, on SEC Network+. Left-hander Hunter Hollan will get the start on the mound for the Razorbacks and go up against Gamecock left-hander Matthew Becker.
South Carolina starter James Mahoney was dominant, twirling seven scoreless innings with six strikeouts. The right-hander limited the Hogs to five hits and two walks, wiggling his way out of jams throughout the game to improve to 5-2.
Brady Tygart, meanwhile, started for Arkansas and was sharp on the hill. The right-hander struck out four in three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while throwing 37 pitches in his third outing on the mound since returning from an early-season injury scare.
Through his first three appearances in a starting role, Tygart has record five strikeouts over six scoreless innings of work. The Hernando, Miss., native has allowed just one hit and issued two free passes since getting back on the mound.
Will McEntire emerged in relief of Tygart and ran into trouble in the top half of the fourth. South Carolina broke through for three runs on four hits, jumping out to a 3-0 lead on Arkansas.
From there, McEntire settled down. The veteran right-hander did not allow another run all night, turning in six innings of three-run ball while matching his career high in strikeouts with nine.
Arkansas got on the board in the bottom of the eighth, thanks to Jace Bohrofen’s RBI single. South Carolina reliever Chris Veach worked around the trouble, however, securing the Gamecocks’ 3-1 win and earning his fifth save of the season.
Brady Slavens and Peyton Holt each recorded a pair of hits in Saturday’s setback to pace the Razorback offense. Tavian Josenberger, in his second game back from injury, drew two walks and scored the Hogs’ lone run of the night.
While its seven-game winning streak in SEC play was snapped with the loss, Arkansas maintains its one-half game lead for the best record in the SEC and SEC Western Division entering tomorrow’s series finale at Baum-Walker Stadium.
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Note to Our Readers: The previous story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Oliver Grigg.
