Santa Clara proved itself a legitimate four-seed in the Fayetteville Regional on Friday. Arkansas proved itself a national power.
The Razorbacks, the No. 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament and tops in their own hosted regional, topped Broncos in the weekend’s opener, 13-6. It wasn’t quite that easy, though.
Santa Clara outhit Arkansas, 13 to 10, but the Diamond Hogs coaxed 10 walks and were hit by pitches three times en route two different five-run innings and a three-run frame in the seventh.
It was the five runs in the fourth that put the Razorbacks ahead for good. They entered the inning trailing 2-0 after the Broncos scored two off starter Hunter Hollan in the first. Parker Rowland had an RBI single and John Bolton followed with a sacrifice fly to tie things. Kendall Diggs then hit a rare three-run single to cap things.
Tavian Josenberger hit a two-run homer in the sixth and Arkansas scored on three bases-loaded walks later in the frame to drop another five runs.
Will McEntire kept Santa Clara at bay enough in the middle innings to pick up the win. He pitched five innings of relief after Hollan made it through just 2 1/3.
Caleb Cali tacked on a three-run home run in the seventh to provide Arkansas all the runs it would need.
The Diamond Hogs will play either No. 2 Texas Christian or No. 3 Arizona in the winner’s bracket on Saturday. The loser of that game gets Santa Clara in an elimination game.
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