Tag: Zack Morris

Report: Former Razorback pitcher Zack Morris commits to TCU

Former Arkansas pitcher Zack Morris entered the portal last month and has reportedly found a new home in Fort Worth.

Former Arkansas pitcher [autotag]Zack Morris[/autotag] has found a new home after entering the transfer portal last month.

TCU insider Jamie Plunkett reported on Tuesday morning that Morris has committed to the Horned Frogs. Plunkett tweeted that he was told about Morris’ commitment news, tagging the official TCU baseball account.

Morris has a career ERA of 4.77 in just 61 appearances. He only had 18 appearances for the [autotag]Diamond Hogs[/autotag] in 2023 and struggled to find consistency. He finished the year with a 7.64 ERA and record of 1-4.

Last season was undoubtedly a disappointment for Morris and the Arkansas coaching staff after he had an incredible 2022. Morris was a integral part of the pitching staff that helped the Razorbacks to Omaha. He finished 2022 with a record of 6-1 and 2.31 ERA in 22 appearances.

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Arkansas pitcher Zack Morris hitting the transfer portal

Arkansas pitcher Zack Morris has entered the transfer portal as of Friday afternoon.

Arkansas baseball is going to need to find a way to make the roster work for 2024.

Unfortunately, that means that some players may have to move on.

On Friday, it was reported that southpaw Zack Morris had elected to get in the transfer portal.

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Morris made 18 appearances for the Razorbacks in 2023, but he was huge in the run to Omaha the year before.

The Cabot native will undoubtedly have a number of suitors being a left-hander and with his experience.

Stayin’ Alive: Arkansas forces winner-take-all game with Ole Miss after win Wednesday

Zack Morris’ brilliant ninth inning saves Arkansas, forces winner-take-all game against Ole Miss on Thursday.

With the bases loaded, nobody out in the ninth inning and Arkansas nursing a two-run lead, Zack Morris made his jog from the bullpen. Two nights before he recorded a grand total of one out in a start against Ole Miss.

On Wednesday, he recorded three. In that exact situation.

The junior gave up a run-scoring infield hit, but recorded a strikeout, induced a flyout and a lineout to lift Arkansas to a win, 3-2, over the Rebels.

The victory forced a winner-take-all game between the two teams on Thursday night. The winner of that will play in the national championship series against Oklahoma, which eliminated No. 5 Texas A&M earlier in the day.

Ole Miss loaded the bases with no one out in the ninth after Evan Taylor allowed a single on the first pitch and Brady Tygart hit back-to-back Rebels batters on consecutive pitches. Van Horn called for Morris.

Chris Lanzilli homered for Arkansas in the second but was immediately followed in the bottom of the inning by Kemp Alderman going solo. Hagen Smith came out recorded strikeouts on eight of the next nine outs he recorded.

Meanwhile, Brady Slavens went yard with another solo home run in the fifth and Michael Turner hit an RBI single in the eighth to provide a bit of insurance.

Taylor entered in the sixth and allowed just a single hit through his first three innings. Alderman took the first pitch of the ninth to right field, though, to bring the tying run to the plate and finish Taylor’s night for Brady Tygart, the man who served as Arkansas’ closer most of the year.

But it was Morris who closed it and kept the Diamond Hogs alive for another day.

Razorbacks escape Central Arkansas’ upset effort in extra inning win

The Razorbacks took advantage of a late-inning mishap by Central Arkansas to grab the win.

It took extra innings, but the Razorbacks pulled it out.

A 10th inning mishap by Central Arkansas with runners in scoring position gave Arkansas the break they needed as they walked off victorious, defeating the Bears, 2-1 Tuesday at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock.

Tied 1-1 heading to the 10th inning, Central Arkansas would strand a runner at third base to end their half of the inning, giving Arkansas a chance to walk away was winners. [autotag]Robert Moore[/autotag] and [autotag]Cayden Wallace[/autotag] would reach on a single and a walk respectively.

[autotag]Michael Turner[/autotag] would reach base at the expense of Wallace being thrown out at second base on a fielder’s choice but would advance Moore to third base. [autotag]Brady Slavens[/autotag] stepped in the box and would take a base on balls with a full count, but the last pitch escaped the pitcher, allowing Moore to score and to give Arkansas the win.

Defense was the name of the game prior to the 10th inning walkoff. Arkansas took their first lead of the game in the 5th inning, breaking a scoreless tie. [autotag]Braydon Webb[/autotag] opened the inning with a single to left field, and scored two at-bats later on a single to left field by [autotag]Dylan Leach[/autotag] to give the Razorbacks the 1-0 lead.

Central Arkansas answered in the top of the 6th inning. Hunter Hicks grounded out to score Kolby Johnson, who reached with a leadoff double, from third base.

Pitching wise, both teams received production from their bullpens. For Arkansas, starter [autotag]Will McEntire[/autotag] allowed three hits and an earned run in 6.0 innings, striking out four batters. [autotag]Zack Morris[/autotag], [autotag]Evan Taylor[/autotag], [autotag]Mark Adamiak[/autotag], and [autotag]Heston Tole[/autotag] would carry the load for the remaining four innings, with neither reliever allowing a hit.

Central Arkansas’ Oliver Laufman tossed seven innings in his start, allowing six hits and an earned run. Andrew Shoultz struck out four batters and allowed a hit in 2.2 innings of relief.

Webb led the Arkansas offense with two hits, while Leach led in RBI with one.

The Razorbacks return to Baum-Walker Stadium on Friday to host Ole Miss. First pitch of the weekend-opener is set for 6:30 p.m. CT

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Ledbetter Saved by the Bell

It was bound to happen. Austin Ledbetter showed on Wednesday that he is human after all. The Bryant sophomore did not pitch poorly, but Grambling made some better swings on good pitches. Ultimately Ledbetter was unable to get out of the third inning after allowing 3 earned runs on 5 hits in just 2 1/3 IP. The bright spot for Ledbetter is that he did not issue a walk in his 43 pitches.

It was bound to happen. Austin Ledbetter showed on Wednesday that he is human after all. The Bryant sophomore did not pitch poorly, but Grambling made some better swings on good pitches. Ultimately Ledbetter was unable to get out of the third inning after allowing 3 earned runs on 5 hits in just 2 1/3 IP. The bright spot for Ledbetter is that he did not issue a walk in his 43 pitches.

Zack Morris came on in relief and shut down a Grambling rally, tossing 2 2/3 scoreless relief en route to a win.

Tuesday’s pitching performance was far more dominant, but Ledbetter, Morris, Heston Tole, and Nick Griffin combined to shut down a frisky Grambling offense. And they were all largely efficient, with all four combining to only thrown 134 pitches.