FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. Arkansas offense put up two big innings Friday night at Baum Stadium and starting pitcher Blaine Knight remained undefeated on the year, tying a career-high 11 strikeouts over seven innings to help the No. 6 Arkansas Razorbacks to a 9-3 series-opening win over No. 20 Texas A&M.
Arkansas (34-15, 15-10 SEC) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning capped by a three-run home run by Carson Shaddy, his 10th of the year. Then, it added five more runs in the fifth to force Texas A&M starter Mitchell Kilkenny out of the game in what ended up being his shortest outing of the year.
In that frame, the Hogs scored runs on a bases-loaded walk and a bases-loaded hit by pitch. Junior Eric Cole finally broke through in the next at-bat with a two-RBI single with two outs, breaking the game wide open. It was Coles only hit but came at a crucial point where the Aggies couldnt answer.
The win is the Razorbacks eighth straight at home and ups their total home record to 28-3, which includes a win at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock. In just home games this year, the Hogs are averaging 8.6 runs per game and have scored five or more in their last six home contests.
Arkansas continues to hold strong to the lead in the SEC Western Division with the victory. Now at 15-10, the Razorbacks are a half-game up on the Ole Miss Rebels, who have already won two games against the Auburn Tigers this week after starting their series on Thursday.
Arkansas and Texas A&M will be back on the field for game two of the series tomorrow starting at 1 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN2. Saturday will also be Senior Day for Luke Bonfield, Carson Shaddy, Jared Gates. Those recognition ceremonies will start at roughly 12:30 p.m.
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