Arkansas slides past Texas A&M in SEC Tourney opener

Arkansas used some more Kendall Diggs magic in extra innings to advance over Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament.

Things didn’t look good for Arkansas after three innings of Wednesday’s SEC Tournament opener with Texas A&M. However, the Diamond Hogs were able to get some more magic from Kendall Diggs in extra innings to advance, 6-5.

Arkansas starter Cody Adcock got off to a rough start, had loaded the bases and Zack Morris was inserted and promptly allowed all three runners to score before getting out of the inning.

Morris only gave up one more run, a solo shot, before exiting after the seventh. Down 4-1 in the seventh with one out, Jared Wegner uncorked a bomb into the Hoover Met parking lot.

Texas A&M tied the game 5-5 in the top of the 9th with a solo shot off Will McEntire. McEntire was able to survive and escape the inning without further damage – retiring Hunter Haas after a short battle.

The Diamond Hogs weren’t able to get much working offensively in the bottom of the 9th, as Aggie reliever Brandyn Garcia was able to strike out Brady Slavens swinging to send it into extra innings.

After giving up a single to Travis Chestnut, McEntire was able to get a strikeout and fly out back-to-back. With two outs, Arkansas catcher Parker Rowland was able to catch Chestnut stealing second to get the Hogs out of the inning.

The Arkansas bats were able to warm up and get the Aggies into a jam, even after bringing RHP Ty Sexton to relieve Garcia. The Hogs were able to get two runners, Cali and Holt, into scoring position, but wouldn’t be able to capitalize. Sexton was able to ground Josenberger out to end the inning.

In the top of the 11th, Arkansas was able to make quick work of the bottom of the Aggies’ lineup, going three-up, three-down. Kendall Diggs was finally able to put an end to the festivities in the bottom of the 11th inning. Batting leadoff, Diggs sent a 2-1 fastball deep into right field for a solo home run and Arkansas win.

The Razorbacks move on to the third round of the SEC Tournament to face No. 5 LSU tomorrow night at 4:30 p.m.

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