Tate McGuire delivered five perfect innings in relief, but No. 7 Arkansas came up just short in a 5-4 loss to No. 10 TCU on Saturday night at Globe Life Field in the Shriners Children’s College Showdown.The announced crowd of 22,384 set a single-day attendance record for college baseball at the home of the Texas Rangers. Arkansas fell to 1-1 on the season and 10-4 all-time at the venue.
TCU jumped ahead early, scoring four runs in the first two innings against Razorbacks starter Hunter Dietz, who was making his first collegiate start. Dietz worked two innings, allowing four runs on three hits and three walks while striking out five.
Arkansas chipped away at the deficit, beginning with an RBI by Maika Niu in the third inning. After TCU added a run in the fourth to make it 5-1, the Razorbacks responded in the fifth when Camden Kozeal scored on a passed ball and Reese Robinett followed with an RBI double to cut the margin to two.
Kuhio Aloy pulled Arkansas within one in the seventh with a towering 448-foot solo home run to the second deck in left field, his first of the season, making it 5-4.
McGuire kept the Razorbacks within striking distance, retiring all 15 batters he faced while striking out four over five scoreless innings. He relieved Dietz and Jackson Kircher, who allowed one run in one inning.
TCU reliever Noah Franco shut the door, tossing three scoreless innings with four strikeouts to secure the victory.
Damian Ruiz led Arkansas at the plate with two hits, a walk and a stolen base, while Kozeal drew a career-high three walks.
Arkansas concludes play in the Shriners Children’s College Showdown on Sunday against Texas Tech. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on FloCollege.
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