FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – With a two-run seventh and a six-run eighth inning, the fourth-ranked Razorbacks ran away with an 11-6 victory over 15th-ranked LSU Friday night in Baum-Walker Stadium. It’s the second-straight game that the Hogs have scored 10 or more runs and first series win over LSU since 2011.
After falling behind 3-0 after the first two innings, Arkansas (39-12, 19-7 SEC) crept its way back into the game with single runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings. The breakthrough finally came in the seventh when Casey Martin’s RBI single to left field allowed Trevor Ezell to score the go-ahead run to make it 4-3. The Razorbacks went on to score seven more times to grow its lead to 11-3, while the pitching staff held LSU’s offense in check, allowing only four baserunners in the third through eighth innings.
With the win, this year’s Razorbacks are now tied with the 2004 team for the most conference victories in the Dave Van Horn era dating back to 2003. It’s also the third-straight year that Arkansas has 18 or more games in league play.
All nine of Arkansas’ starters recorded at least one of the Hogs’ 12 hits in the game. Dominic Fletcher, Heston Kjerstad and Casey Opitz all turned in two-hit performances with Fletcher driving in a team-best three RBIs. Kjerstad notched his 11th multi-RBI game of the year, driving in two runs, including one off a big solo home run in the sixth inning to tie the game at 3-3.
On the mound, freshman Patrick Wicklander didn’t have his best stuff, but only gave up three runs in 3 1/3 innings, striking out four. The Razorback bullpen were the stars of the night as the Kevin Kopps and Jacob Kostyshock combo held the Tigers to just one hit in 4 2/3 innings, while striking out five. Kopps picked up his fifth victory of the year after throwing four scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
Kopps entered the game in the middle of the fourth inning after LSU had loaded the bases with one out and a 3-1 lead, looking for insurance runs. Kopps stopped that momentum in its tracks, inducing the 6-4-3 double play to get out of the inning with no runs crossing the plate.
Arkansas will go for its fourth conference series sweep on Saturday as it will take on LSU one more time at Baum-Walker Stadium. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. and will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
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