OMAHA, Neb. (AP) _ Luke Bonfield hit the go-ahead home run in the fifth inning
and Arkansas broke it open with an eight-run sixth in an 11-5 victory over Texas
on Sunday in the College World Series.
The Razorbacks (45-19) scored double-digit runs for the fourth time in six NCAA
Tournament wins and had their highest total in 28 CWS games. The Longhorns
(42-22), in the CWS for a record 36th time, lost their third straight Omaha
opener since 2011.
Bonfield delivered the first home run of the CWS with his two-run shot to left
for a 3-2 lead. Parker Joe Robinson took over for Texas starter Nolan Kingham
(8-5) to start the sixth and walked the only two batters he faced. That started
a parade of pitchers who either struggled to find the strike zone or got dinged
for single after single.
Arkansas led 5-2 with the bases loaded when the teams were pulled off the field
because of lightning in the bottom of the sixth. The Razorbacks picked up where
they left off after the 2-hour, 49-minute delay. In all, 10 straight batters
reached base, 14 went to the plate and Texas used five pitchers in an inning
that matched Arkansas’ biggest of the season.
The Razorbacks swept the Longhorns 13-4 and 7-5 in Fayetteville in March, but
this was the first time the old rivals from the Southwest Conference days had
been matched in the CWS since 2004. The Razorbacks are 2-3 against Texas in five
CWS meetings.
Arkansas starter Blaine Knight (13-0), the Baltimore Orioles’ third-round draft
pick, allowed two runs on four hits and a walk in five innings. He struck out
four.
Big 12 player of the year Kody Clemens, son of seven-time Cy Young Award winner
Roger Clemens and one of the hottest hitters in the postseason, was 1 for 5 with
two strikeouts.
GARRIDO TRIBUTE
A sixth-inning video tribute to longtime Texas coach and NCAA wins leader Augie
Garrido ended with fans for both teams standing to applaud. Garrido stepped down
as coach after the 2016 season and ranked first in college baseball wins until
Florida State coach Mike Martin broke the record last month. Garrido won two
national championships at Texas and three at Cal State Fullerton during his
48-year career. He died in March following a stroke.
OUT OF MY WAY, PAL
A minor kerfuffle at first base in the fifth inning had Clemens, the Texas
second baseman, jawing at Heston Kjerstad for apparently being too rough with
first baseman Jake McKenzie. The Longhorns, apparently thinking Kjerstad turned
toward second base before changing his mind after running through the base,
hurried to get the ball to McKenzie after an overthrow. Kjerstad made it back
to first and knocked over McKenzie upon his arrival, with the umpire extending
his arms to separate Clemens and McKenzie.
UP NEXT
Arkansas plays Tuesday night against Texas Tech. The Red Raiders
defeated Florida 6-3 Sunday night.
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