Razorback junior starting pitcher Zack Morris (#32) from Cabot, AR throws a strike against OSU Monday night at O'Brate Stadium in Stillwater, OK.
By Otis Kirk
Brady Slavens singled with one out in the bottom of the ninth to allow Peyton Stovall to score and Arkansas took a 4-3 win over North Carolina in the Chapel Hill Super Regional.
With that hit this Arkansas team, written off by many at the end of the SEC Tournament following six losses in eight tries, will do something last season's teams couldn't do and that's advance to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. Last year's team was ranked No. 1 virtually all season, but fell short at the super regional in Fayetteville. Dave Van Horn was pleased to get the win.
"Wow, what a game," Van Horn said. "First I want to thank everyone here at North Carolina. This was a first-class super regional. Everyone running it, North Carolina’s coaches, their players, their fans. I thought they were as good as any I’ve ever been around as far as the way we were treated. I hate that anybody had to lose. I’ve been on the other side of this a few times. It hurts. It hurts for the kids.
"The game was amazing. Both teams were strong mentally. They just hung in there through the two lightning delays and frustrations. The game starts at 1 o’clock [Eastern time]. It’s not supposed to finish at 6:30 or 7 o’clock, whatever time it is … Just a testament to the competitiveness of both teams."
Arkansas (43-19) had to take a long route to get to Omaha. They won the Stillwater Regional defeating host Oklahoma State 7-3 in the final game. Then went 2-0 in Chapel Hill after defeating North Carolina 4-1 on Saturday in the opener.
Sunday's game had a 1 hour, 36-minute delay for lightning and then another 68-minute delay before finally ending. The ninth inning was full of highlights with momentum seemingly shifting to the Tar Heels before back to the Hogs.
The game was tied at 2 in the top of the ninth. Thomas Frick opened the inning with a double to left field. Johnny Castagnozzi then struck out. Joe Jaconski then flied out to center field for out two. That brought Patrick Alvarez to the plate. Alvarez was hitting .121 and only playing because of some earlier substitutions. Alvarez hit a two-out single to center field to plate Frick for a 3-2 lead. Zack Morris then entered for Hagen Smith. He got Angel Zarate to fly out to Zack Gregory in left field.
In the bottom of the ninth, Jalen Battles led off with a single to left field. Stovall then followed with a single to center field. For the freshman Stovall it was his third hit of the day in four tries. Kendall Diggs then pinch hit for Gregory. He walked to load the bases. Braydon Webb then hit a ground ball forcing Diggs out at second, but allowing Battles to score the tying run. Arkansas did all the damage against North Carolina closer Davis Palermo who had pitched 3.1 innings. The Tar Heels went to the bullpen to get lefty Caden O'Brien to pitch to Slavens, who bats left. Slavens hit the second pitch from O'Brien into right field and the celebration started. Van Horn said the dugout still had a good vibe even after the Tar Heels went up one run in the top half of the inning.
"Oh yeah. I mean, one run, we felt like we could score one," Van Horn said. "Obviously I wasn’t going to play for the tie. It’s supposed to 97 degrees tomorrow. I wanted to win tonight. We swung it. You think about the at bats there, Peyton Stovall, he’s on fire right now. I mean, the only out he made he hit the ball hard to second base. What a great at bat, slashing one into the gap. First and third, nobody out. We felt like we were going to win the game."
Arkansas took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth when Chris Lanzilli doubled to left field to allow Battles to score. In the bottom of the fifth, Webb hit a one-out shot over the fence in center field for a 2-0 lead.
The Tar Heels tied the game at 2 in the top of the seventh inning. Both North Carolina runs scored in the seventh were credited to Kole Ramage, who pitched 0.1 inning in relief of starter Will McEntire. The former Bryant standout gave the Razorbacks a quality start. He worked 5.2 innings, allowing three hits, walking two and striking out four while shutting out the Tar Heels.
"I feel very fortunate to win the ballgame," Van Horn said. "I thought Will McEntire did a tremendous job for us right out of the gate."
The Hogs also used Evan Taylor and Brady Tygart before bringing in Smith and then Morris who faced one batter and picked up the win. O'Brien took the loss.
The College World Series dates are June 17-27 at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha. The Razorbacks will face either Stanford or UConn in the first game. This is the 11th appearance in the College World Series for Arkansas and seventh time for Van Horn to get the Hogs there.