FAYETTEVILLE -- No. 4 Arkansas completed a two-game sweep over Northern Colorado with a 9-4 win on Wednesday in front of 9,105 fans at Baum-Walker Stadium.
Arkansas (16-6) ended its 18-game homestand with a 13-5 record. They jumped on Northern Colorado (3-20) early on Wednesday and appeared on way to run-rule win, but they stranded 10 runners on the day. In addition, the fourth pitcher on the day for Arkansas, freshman Joey Lorenzini, struggled facing four hitters with each scoring.
Arkansas got outstanding pitching from the other four who took the mound including freshman Peyton Lee (1-1). The former Maumelle standout got the start and worked five innings allowing just one hit, three walks and struck out six. Lee was pleased to have the outstanding showing.
"I felt great," Lee said. "I just wanted to throw down the middle and give my defense a chance to work. Get through some innings."
Matt Hobbs, Arkansas' pitching coach, recently was quoted saying he was working with Lee on some things. Lee identified those after the game.
"I felt like my front half was pulling off a little early causing me to yank some pitches," Lee said. "It's always something I've battled with, but coming up here he has helped me a lot."
Arkansas had 11 hits in the game with the top five in the lineup each getting two. Damian Ruiz, Camden Kozeal, Kuhio Aloy, Zack Stewart and Carter Rutenbar supplied 10 hits. The other was a triple by Christian Turner. Dave Van Horn rested some starters including Ryder Helfrick and Maika Niu.
Arkansas scored two runs in the bottom of the first when Ruiz walked, Kozeal walked, but Aloy hit a ground ball directly to third baseman Brian Kenny who stepped on third to get Ruiz and then threw to first to complete the double play. Arkansas was fortunate that Kenny didn't throw to second or it might have been a triple play. Stewart and then Rutenbar hit back-to-back singles to plate the two runs.
The Razorbacks had a big chance to score several runs in the bottom of the third, but just added one. With one out, Stewart, Rutenbar and TJ Pompey walked. With the three walks that chased Northern Colorado starter Logan Moser. However, Mason Bright walked the first hitter he faced to allow Stewart to score from third and bases still loaded with one out. But shortstop Carson Brumbaugh hit into a double play to end the inning with the Razorbacks up 3-0.
Arkansas added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Ruiz walked and Kozeal singled. Aloy hit a single that allowed both Ruiz and Kozeal to score. The Hogs added another run in the bottom of the fifth when Reese Robinett was hit by a pitch. He stole second and then scored on a Turner triple.
Kozeal scored in the bottom of the sixth on a wild pitch. The final two runs for Arkansas came in the bottom of the seventh when Pompey and Turner walked. They both came home on a double by Ruiz.
It was then with the Razorbacks leading 9-0 that Van Horn opted to bring in Lorenzini. He allowed a leadoff single to Kenny. Pinch hitter Wilson Kieffer was hit by a pitch. Sam Pease singled to allow Kenny and Kieffer to score. Then Brandon Sanchez hit a pitch over the fence in left field to end Lorenzini's day.
Van Horn turned to Luke Cornelison. He worked two innings allowing just one hit and fanning a hitter. Tate McGuire followed Lee to the mound and only allowed one walk that was quickly erased with a double play. Cooper Dossett worked one perfect inning. The five Arkansas pitchers combined to allow five hits while walking four and striking out seven.
Northern Colorado used eight pitchers in the game. Moser allowed four hits, three runs, walked four and struck out two in his 2.1 innings and took the loss. Moser (0-2) took the loss.
Arkansas (16-6, 2-1) will now head to South Carolina (12-10, 0-3) for three games. Friday's game will start at 6 p.m. CT followed by Saturday at 3 and then Sunday 12:30. The Gamecocks were swept by Florida last weekend.