By Otis Kirk
No. 7 Arkansas lost its fourth game in a row on Tuesday night falling Missouri State 8-4 in Springfield at Hammons Field.
It also was the fourth win in a row for Missouri State. The Hogs took a 2-1 lead in the top of the second, but then Missouri State answered with six runs in the third to pull away. Dave Van Horn pointed to that third inning as the difference in the game.
"We played a solid game except for one inning," Van Horn said. "I think (Zack) Morris came in and gave up maybe 4 or 5 hits, 4 or 5 runs. (Austin) Ledbetter gave up a couple.
"The issue with that inning was all of those big hits were with two strikes. We were ahead in the count 0-2 and 1-2 on the home run, on the ball that was hit down the right-field line. That was supposed to be an expand up, and it was, I don’t know, belt high.
"Those are mistakes that you can’t make, especially when you’re facing a team that can hit. We competed at the plate, but we got down big early and it was a battle."
Morris (0-3) took the loss on the day. He pitched 0.2 inning, allowed four hits, five runs, walked one and struck out two. In all, Van Horn used five pitchers. Cody Adcock got the start and worked two innings. Ledbetter pitched 0.2 inning, Parker Coil 2.2 innings and Ben Bybee a couple as well.
Missouri State coach Keith Gutton likes how his team is on a winning streak as they head to Conway today to face UCA.
"I feel good about the way we're playing right now," Guttin told the Springfield News Leader. "I think we caught Arkansas at a time with a lot of injuries but we did what we had to do offensively and I thought our relief pitching was excellent.
"I thought we got some clutch hitting, particularly early. We have some veteran guys and we feel like we can create damage in parts of our lineup."
In the bottom of the third, a one-out walk and two singles set the stage for a big inning. Chance Nivens walked, Mason Hull singled then Zack Stewart singled to left to plate Nivens. After a strikeout for the second out, Taeg Gollert then doubled to right field to allow two more runs to score. Cam Cratic singled to push another run across. Then Anthony Socci blasted a two-run home run for a 7-2 lead.
The game started off for Arkansas just as the Georgia game on Saturday ended. The Bulldogs' last two hitters on Saturday hit home runs. Missouri State leadoff hitter Nick Rodriquez greeted Adcock with a solo shot for a quick 1-0 lead.
The Hogs did strike back in the top of the second. Ben McLaughlin doubled to start the inning. Brady Slavens then singled to get McLaughlin home. Jayson Jones walked. After Peyton Holt struck out for the first out of the inning, Hudson Polk hit a grounder to shortstop. Rodriguez started what appeared to be a double play, but second baseman Hull threw wildly to first allowing Polk to reach on a fielder's choice. Slavens scored on the error to put the Hogs up 2-1.
Missouri State took an 8-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth with a single, two walks and a sacrifice fly.
In the top of the seventh, Jones opened the inning with a single. Holt then tripled to right-center field to plate Jones. Holt scored the final run of the game on a sacrifice ground out by Harold Coll.
Missouri State finished with 10 hits to only five for the Hogs. Missouri State did commit three errors. Missouri State used four pitchers with the second one to the mound, Trey Ziegenbein (2-3), working 3.0 innings and striking out a trio while not allowing any runs or hits to earn the win.
Arkansas (30-11, 11-7) will be at home this weekend for a three-game series against Texas A&M. The first game is set for Thursday night at 7 p.m. on ESPNU. Friday's game at 6 p.m. on the SEC Network+ and then 11 a.m. Saturday morning televised on the SEC Network. Missouri State (23-16, 11-4) is at UCA Wednesday with a 3 p.m. first pitch.