A frustrating afternoon gave way to an even more frustrating evening in Fayetteville on Friday. The #2 Arkansas Razorbacks dropped their home opener for the first time since the Clinton Administration in a 3-2 loss at the hands of Illinois State. That loss, though, was not due to bad pitching.
The pitching was not great, to be sure, but it was more than good enough to win. This may be the only time for the whole year the Hogs lose after limiting their opponents to only three runs. As is so often the case, this game was lost on the margins.
Arkansas pitching handed out six free passes, hit a batter, and allowed seven base hits. The defense helped limit the damage, and pitchers were able to get out of james they created for themselves. To only allow 3 runs out of 14 baserunners is a notable accomplishment.
The game ball for pitching today goes to Gabriel Starks. The Pine Bluff native came into the game in a sticky situation. He spike his first pitch in the dirt for a WP, then came back to strikeout the Redbirds best hitter. He followed that up with another WP, only to cover home plate in time to tag out Kyle Soberano as he tried to score from third.
Starks was the only Razorback to not issue a walk, and he – along with catcher Michale Turner – turned lemons into lemonade in the ninth inning. They gave Arkansas a chance in the home half of the inning.