OMAHA, Neb. (AP) _ Dominic Fletcher went 4 for 4 with a homer and four RBIs and
Arkansas pitchers struck out 14 in a 7-4 victory over Texas Tech in the College
World Series on Wednesday.
Fletcher doubled in two runs in the first inning, homered in the fourth, had a
bunt single in the sixth and singled in a run in the eighth as the Razorbacks
won their second game to take control of Bracket 1. They need one more win,
Friday or Saturday, to move to the best-of-three finals next week.
Arkansas (46-19) held one of the nation’s top offenses mostly in check. The Red
Raiders (45-19) had come into the game scoring 8.2 runs per game and batting
.311. Their six hits were their fewest in 19 games, and their 14 strikeouts were
three fewer than the season-high 17 they had in a 5-1 loss at Arkansas in April.
Razorbacks starter Kacey Murphy limited Tech to two runs and two hits in 4 2/3
innings. The Detroit Tigers’ 11th-round draft pick struck out seven, including
four in a row over the third and fourth innings. Barrett Loseke (4-2) struck out
five in three innings of shutout relief. Matt Cronin worked the last 1 1/3
innings, allowing two runs.
Jared Gates’ sixth homer of the season put the Razorbacks up 3-0 in the second
against Davis Martin (7-6), and Fletcher hit his ninth in the fourth before Jax
Biggers’ RBI single made it 5-0.
The start of the game was delayed 3 1/2 hours because of rain.
BUNT, OR YOU’RE OUT
Arkansas cleanup hitter Luke Bonfield was pulled for a pinch hitter in the
eighth inning after he bunted foul on the first pitch of his at-bat. Hunter
Wilson didn’t fare any better when he inherited Bonfield’s 0-1 count. He fouled
off two bunt tries.
I GOT IT…NO, YOU GOT IT
Some miscommunication between Texas Tech right fielder Gabe Holt and center
fielder Cody Farhat led to Arkansas’ first two runs. Fletcher hit a fly into the
gap that looked catachable, but Holt and Farhat collided, with the ball glancing
off Farhat’s glove and dropping. Eric Cole and Casey Martin scored for a 2-0
lead. The official scorekeeper ruled it a double.
ON THE REBOUND
Fletcher looked as if he would score easily when Tech reliever John McMillon
threw a pitch over Braxton Fulford in the eighth inning. But the ball bounced
hard off the backstop right back to the catcher, who was able to put the tag on
Fletcher to end the inning.
UP NEXT
Arkansas moves to the bracket final Friday. The Razorbacks will play the winner
of the Thursday elimination game between Texas Tech and Florida at 7:00 Friday night.
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