Pardon the lateness here, but Arkansas baseball is good.
The No. 3 Diamond Hogs closed out their series agianst McNeese State on Sunday with an easy 18-5 win to sweep the set. Now the Razorbacks get set for a one-game series with Oral Roberts before opening SEC play.
Arkansas is clearly ready. After a slow start at the plate, but a great one on the mound, the Razorbacks have picked it up on offense. In the capper against Cowboys, the Diamond Hogs picked up 12 hits and walked 10 times. In the series, Arkansas plated a total of 32 runs.
Ben McLaughlin and Ross Lovich had the best days in the finale. McLaughlin finished 4 for 5 with a double, three RBI and two runs. Lovich, hitting lead-off, had a three-run home run, four total RBI and two runs.
The one drawback were the thumps. McLaughlin’s two-bagger and Lovich’s home run were the only extra-base hits Arkansas collected.
They were enough for the staff.
Mason Molina had his worst game yet in an Arkansas uniform, the Texas Tech transfer working only four innings, giving up four earned runs on three hits and three walks. He also had a balk and hit a batter.
But after McNeese State took a 5-4 lead after their half of a four-run fifth, Arkansas responded with six runs to take control.
The Diamond Hogs have four games left at Baum-Walker Stadium before they hit road in weekend No. 2 of SEC play against Auburn. The game against ORU is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday.