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Arkansas Holds Off Vanderbilt Rally For 9-4 Win 4/17/2004
Arkansas Holds Off Vanderbilt Rally For 9-4 Win NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The #22 Vanderbilt Commodores rallied in the ninth inning with three runs, but came up short in a 9-4 loss to #21 Arkansas tonight at Hawkins Field. With the win, Arkansas claims the series and takes a 2-0 lead into tomorrow’s final game at 1 p.m. Vanderbilt is now 25-10, 6-8 in the SEC, while Arkansas is 25-12, 10-4 in league action. The Razorbacks totaled 14 hits in the contest, including three home runs. The 14 hits are the most given up by the Commodores this season. “We just need to keep playing hard – don’t quit and keep coming,” VU Head Coach Tim Corbin said. “We are playing a hot team right now, very hot. We made mistakes up in the zone and paid for it. We’ll just keep digging and fighting.” Arkansas got on the board in the first inning when Scott Hode picked up his 34th RBI of the season when his single to right field scored Jake Dugger who reached base on a walk and advanced to third on a hit-and-run single by Clay Goodwin. Jake Dugger hit two home runs in the contest — a solo shot in the third and fifth innings. Arkansas added two more runs in the fifth when Goodwin drew a walk and Hode hit a two-run shot over the left field wall for a 5-0 lead. Matt Buschmann entered the contest in relief of Commodore starter Jensen Lewis with a runner at first and gave up two walks to load the bases. Buschmann then struck out Devin Day to retire the side. Jensen Lewis went 4.1 innings for the Commodores and gave up five runs (five earned) on eight hits. He struck out six and walked three. The Commodores left 11 base runners stranded including three in the fifth inning and two in the seventh and ninth innings. “We just didn’t have the momentum,” Corbin added. “We had a couple of opportunities with the bases loaded and didn’t capitalize. But I told the guys those things happen and hitting plateaus come and go. We just have to pitch a little better and get off to a better start than we did tonight.” The Commodores got on the board in the sixth inning. With two away, Worth Scott hit a single to right field and scored on a Matt Zeller standup double to right field, his third RBI of the season. Arkansas scored four runs in the eighth inning to extend its lead to eight, 9-1. Devin Day hit a single to right field and Dugger hit a standup triple to deep center field scoring Day. Hamblin then singled to right field scoring Dugger. Following a Goodwin walk, Jeff Sues entered the game in relief of Buschmann and gave up a single to Hode which scored Hamblin. Pratt walked to load the bases and Rowlett walked scoring Goodwin. Pinch-hitter Matt McGraner began the ninth inning with a walk and left fielder Stephen Shao got a single to left field moving McGraner to second. Zach Simpson then had a pinch-hit double down the right field line (his first double of the season) which scored McGraner and moved Shao to third. Mike Baxter grounded out to second scoring Shao and moving Simpson to third. Warner Jones then hit a sacrifice fly that scored Simpson for the final run of the Commodore rally. Vanderbilt totaled nine hits in the game led by Baxter with two. Arkansas had five players with multiple hits led by Dugger who went 3-4 with the two home runs. Matt Buschmann pitched 3.0 innings of relief giving up four runs (four earned) on four hits. He struck out four and walked three. Jeff Sues went 0.2 innings giving up one hit and walking two, while Michael Wagner ended the game with one inning of play giving up one hit and walking one. VU gave up a season-high nine walks on the night. |
