Walker pitches LSU to SEC tourney title over Arkansas

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HOOVER, Ala. (AP) _ Freshman Eric Walker allowed one run in 7-2/3 innings and
LSU held on to beat Arkansas 4-2 Sunday in the Southeastern Conference
Tournament championship game.

The Tigers (43-17) cruised into the game before claiming their 12th SEC
tournament title and sixth under coach Paul Mainieri. They outscored their four
opponents by 35-5 and head into NCAA regionals on an 11-game winning streak.

The Razorbacks (42-17) fell to 0-4 in SEC championship games.

Walker (7-1) struck out eight and allowed five hits and one walk for the Tigers
before leaving with nobody on in the eighth. His performance helped ensure it
didn’t matter that LSU’s bats finally settled down after scoring in double
digits the first three games at Hoover Met.

The Razorbacks threatened in the ninth off closer Hunter Newman, scoring one
run before leaving the bases loaded. He earned his 10th save.

Arkansas managed a walk and a hit batter, then got Eric Cole’s RBI single up
the middle. Newman intentionally walked Chad Spanberger _ who had five homers in
the tournament _ to load the bases with two outs for Luke Bonfield. Bonfield hit
a grounder to shortstop to end the game.

Spanberger was named tournament MVP.

Arkansas starter Kevin Kopps (3-1) allowed three runs, one earned, in three
innings.

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