Arkansas' offense explodes for five home runs in game one as Aggies fall, 7-3

Game #44: No. 4 Arkansas 7, No. 16 Texas A&M 3
Records: Arkansas (40-13, 20-8), Texas A&M (34-19-1, 14-13-1)
WP: Isaiah Campbell (10-1)
LP: Chris Weber (4-1)
Box Score

Arkansas demonstrated their power hitting in game one of Texas A&M’s series against the Razorbacks. Their five home runs proved to be too much for the Aggies in their 7-3 loss.

Chris Weber got the start on the mound and looked strong out of the gates. The freshman sat the Arkansas hitters down in order in his first two innings of work. His Razorback counterpart, Isaiah Campbell, started off hot as well, needing just eight pitches to sit the Aggies down in the bottom of the first despite a single from Bryce Blaum.

Arkansas got their first baserunner of the game in the top of the third off a double to left center that was nearly caught on a dive by left fielder Cam Blake. A subsequent single to center off the bat of Casey Opitz set up runners on the corners with nobody out for Arkansas.

The Razorbacks capitalized. Weber was able to strike Jacob Nesbit out for the first out, but a 3-2 fastball in the next at-bat to Arkansas leadoff hitter Trevor Ezell was crushed over the left field wall to give Arkansas an early three-run cushion.

Tarah Cochran, TexAgs

Chris Weber ran into trouble with the Arkansas lineup in the third inning.

“Everything was going right,” Weber recalled from that moment. “Three mistakes – that was what cost us, really.”

The Aggies got their second baserunner of the game in the bottom of the fourth off a single to left by Braden Shewmake. After Blaum lined a shot between third and short to put runners on second and third for the Aggies, Texas A&M was in position to make some noise for the first time in the game.

After Zach DeLoach struck out looking, Cam Blake laid down a perfect bunt to give the Aggies their first run of the game. A throwing error by Arkansas catcher Casey Opitz gave A&M another run and moved Blake to second, who was then caught trying to steal third with one out and near-.300 hitter Mikey Hoehner at the plate (who was ahead in the count). After Hoehner walked, Frizzell would strike out to end the fourth. Arkansas escaped the fourth with just two runs given up, aided by questionable decision making from Cam Blake on the basepaths.

“That was on me 100%,” Blake said. “All year we’ve been trying to hunt runs, that’s been our big thing as an offense… The guys that can run, we’ve got the green light.”

Arkansas would respond immediately in the top of the fifth with back-to-back solo home runs from Casey Martin and Matt Goodheart to give the Razorbacks a 5-2 lead at the midway point. It would be Weber’s last inning on the hill. He gave up five runs on six hits and had 10 strikeouts.

“Chris couldn’t have been much better than he was,” Rob Childress said after the game. “He made three mistakes with two strikes… And just like that we’re chasing runs.”

Chandler Jozwiak was called on to pitch in the sixth and would give the Razorbacks another insurance run in his first inning of work, a solo shot off the bat of Jack Kenley.

The Aggies would find some offense in the eighth. Braden Shewmake would lead off the inning with a double, and singles from Zach DeLoach and Cam Blake gave the Aggies another run, but the deficit would prove to be too large to overcome.

The ninth inning saw one more home run from Arkansas, a solo shot off the bat of Casey Martin – his second home run of the day. In the bottom of the ninth, the Aggies managed just a single and a walk to wrap up the game.

Mintie Betts, TexAgs

The return of Hunter Coleman is a welcome sight for an A&M offense that has been struggling to produce runs.

Thursday saw the return of Hunter Coleman to the lineup. The junior went 2-4 on the day with a single and double, and he will be a boost to an Aggie offense that continues to struggle to produce runs as the regular season nears its end.

“It felt like a second Opening Day almost,” Coleman said regarding his return. “It felt good [to be back on the field.]”

Despite the loss, Childress has happy with his team’s performance at the dish.

“We did a lot of great things offensively,” he said. “We had 11 hits and 11 at-bats with runners in scoring position. More often than not, when you get those opportunities you’re going to be on the winning side.”

It wasn’t enough on Thursday. The Aggies will look to dig themselves out of an early series hole when John Doxakis takes the mound tomorrow evening. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The next two games will be critical if Texas A&M wants to keep their chances to host a Regional alive.