Arkansas may be the SEC’s best team, which, in turn, makes it perhaps the nation’s best team.
But even the best make mistakes.
The third-ranked Razorbacks lost to No. 6 Vanderbilt on Friday in the second game of the series, 10-8. Arkansas carried an 8-2 lead into the eighth inning in Nashville.
The Commodores struck for eight in the frame, sending 11 hitters to the plate. They had just five hits, as two walks and hit batter helped things along. Gage Wood entered to start the inning for Arkansas despite the man he replaced, Zack Morris, had given up just a single walk and no hits while striking out six in his three innings of work.
Wood record just one out. All five of Vanderbilt hitters who reached against him – via three hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch – scored. Cody Adcock gave up two more runs and didn’t record an out in his relief and Parker Coil allowed one before finally getting Arkansas out of the inning.
The Razorbacks’ lead came early as they scored three runs in the first. Back-to-back solo home runs for Vanderbilt followed in the second before Arkansas scored five straight.
Peyton Holt, Brady Slavens and Caleb Cali combined for eight of Arkansas’ 11 hits, six of the eight RBI and six of the eight runs.
The rubber game between the two teams is scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m.