By Otis Kirk
FAYETTEVILLE -- True freshman Christian Turner entered the game in the seventh as a pinch runner, but ended it in the ninth with a 2-run home run over the fence in right center field for a No. 22 Arkansas 5-4 win over No. 17 Ole Miss in front of 9,891 fans at Baum-Walker Stadium Sunday.
Arkansas (32-17, 13-11) entered the bottom of the ninth trailing 4-3 against Ole Miss closer Walker Hooks. Nolan Souza started the inning off with a single to right field. Turner tried to put down a sacrifice bunt twice, but failed. He then hit what appeared to be home run over the fence in left field, but it went foul. The next pitch Turner didn't miss and hit his second home run of the season. He had replaced Zack Stewart, who hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth.
"It showed all the hard work I had done while waiting my turn to come," Turner said. "He threw a fast ball right down the middle of the plate."
Ole Miss had taken a 4-3 lead in the top of the eighth off reliever Ethan McElvain (4-0) who ended up getting the win. Judd Utermark's home run over the fence in center field was the round tripper surrendered by McElvain this season. He went on to retire six of the next seven batters he faced.
The Razorbacks jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Damian Ruiz led off with a single to center. Ryder Helfrick then walked and Ruiz went to third on a fielder's choice. With two outs Kuhio Aloy then singled to plate Ruiz.
Ole Miss responded with a 3-run home run by shortstop Owen Paino in the top of the third off starter Gabe Gaeckle.
The Razorbacks climbed back in though as Stewart's home run pulled the Hogs to within 3-2. Aloy tied the game up in the bottom of the sixth with a solo shot over the fence in left field.
Arkansas appeared to be ready to take the lead back in the bottom of the seventh. Souza singled then Stewart walked. That is when Dave Van Horn opted to use Turner as a pinch runner for Stewart. Ruiz put down a perfect sacrifice bunt giving the Hogs runners on secodn and third with just one out. Ole Miss intentionally walked Helfrick to load the bases. But Kozeal and Maika Niu both struck out to end the threat.
Gaeckle drew the start. He lasted four innings allowing five hits, three runs, two earned, walked one and fanned five. Parker Coil was outstanding. He relieved Gaeckle and worked three innings allowing no hits or runs while allowing no hits or runs, walking one and striking out three.
Ole Miss closer Hooks (3-1) took the loss. Taylor Rabe started and worked five innings allowing five hits, two runs, walking a pair and striking out seven. JP Robertson worked one inning before giving way to Hooks. Robertson gave up two hits, one run, walked a pair and struck out a hitter. In two innings, Hooks gave up two hits, both in the ninth, two runs, walked one and fanned three.
The loss moved Ole Miss (32-17, 12-12) below Arkansas in the standings. Arkansas will now host Oklahoma next weekend. The series starts on Friday at 6 p.m., then Saturday at 2 and Sunday at 1. All three games will be available on the SEC Network+. Oklahoma (30-16, 12-12) is one game behind the Razorbacks in the standings. The Hogs are tied with Florida and Alabama while OU is even with Ole Miss.
