FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Brian Walker’s grand slam homer capped off a five-run fifth inning to propel Arkansas to an 8-3 win over Vanderbilt Sunday afternoon at Baum Stadium.
The Razorbacks took the series with the win and improved to 19-7 overall and 4-2 in SEC play, while the Commodores dropped to 23-3 and 3-3 in league action.
Jeff Nutt had a RBI single for the first run in the fifth and Walker closed the big inning with a grand-slam homer to left field off of reliever Stephen Shao.
The Commodores scored their final run in the sixth when Matt Meingasner came home on a RBI single by Kurt Lipton.
Brett Jacobson (4-1) was tagged with the loss in his shortest outing of the season. He gave up three runs on five hits with two walks and a strikeout in 1.1 innings of action.
Jess Todd (3-2) picked up the win in relief of Dallas Keuchel who lasted just three innings. Todd allowed one run on four hits with five strikeouts and two walks.
Dominic de la Osa led the Dores with three hits, while Shea Robin chipped in with two of his own.
The Razorbacks took a 1-0 lead in the first when Casey Coon singled with two outs and then scored on a RBI double by Jeff Nutt.
Arkansas then knocked Jacobson out of the game in the bottom of the second scoring two runs to make it 3-0. The first run came on a RBI double by Brian Walker and the Razorbacks loaded the bases with one out before Cody Crowell came on in relief. Ben Tschepikow singled to left to score Walker for the second run in the frame before Crowell got Casey Coon to ground into a double play to end the inning.
Vanderbilt rallied for two runs in the top of the third to cut the lead to 3-2. Brad French doubled down the left field line with one out and David Macias followed with a walk. Alex Feinberg then struck out setting up back to back RBI singles by Dominic de la Osa and Pedro Alvarez.
The Commodores return home for a midweek match-up against Middle Tennessee on Wednesday at 6 p.m. VU will then hit the road again for a three-game series against South Carolina starting Friday night at 6 p.m. CDT.
Vanderbilt 002 001 000 – 3 9 0
Arkansas 120 050 00x – 8 14 1
Jacobson, Crowell (2), Rhoden (5), Shao (5), Cunningham (6), Davis (9) and Robin. Keuchel, Todd (4) and Nutt. W- Todd 3-2, L- Jacobson 4-1. Sv- None. HR- ARK: Walker (4)
