ARLINGTON, Texas — After struggling offensively for two days at Globe Life Field, the fifth-ranked Arkansas baseball team broke out of its slump for a few innings early Sunday against Michigan.
The Razorbacks scored 7 runs over the first, second and third innings, and that was enough as they held on to win 8-6 on the final day of the College Baseball Series at the Texas Rangers’ home ballpark.
Arkansas (6-1) finished its annual trip to North Texas with a 2-1 record. The Razorbacks defeated 23rd-ranked TCU 2-1 on Saturday after losing 3-2 to Kansas State on Friday.
It did not appear Arkansas would need to win another nail biter, but Michigan plated 5 runs after the start of the sixth inning, including a pair of unearned runs in the ninth on Robert Hamchuk’s 2-run single.
Arkansas right-hander Tate McGuire recorded a 1-out save when pinch hitter Will Rogers grounded out to strand Michigan base runners at second and third base. The Wolverines stranded 12 overall.
A two-out throwing error by Arkansas shortstop Wehiwa Aloy prolonged Michigan’s rally. Hamchuk singled against left-hander Parker Coil in the next at-bat, and Coil was lifted after pinch hitter Max Debiec reached with an infield single.
Hamchuk and Debiec advanced to third and second, respectively, on a passed ball by freshman catcher Zane Becker.
“Today it looked like we played until midnight and got up early and played again, honestly,” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. “It was a little sloppy looking. We’re a lot better than that.”
The Razorbacks had 10 hits, walked 8 times and were hit by a pitch twice against a Michigan pitching staff that entered with a 2.45 ERA and 1.24 WHIP. The Wolverines also committed 2 errors.
Arkansas scored twice in the first and second innings and scored 3 runs in the third to go ahead 7-1, but the Razorbacks were unable to move base runners effectively after that point. Arkansas finished 4 for 18 with runners on base and stranded 11.
Michigan (4-3) hit back-to-back home runs against Arkansas right-hander Will McEntire to lead off the sixth inning and pull within 8-3. Cole Caruso’s 397-foot homer and Hamchuk’s 384-foot homer both went to left field.
The Wolverines added a run against Arkansas freshman right-hander Carson Wiggins in the eighth when he allowed a single, threw consecutive wild pitches and walked a batter.
Coil put out the flames in the eighth, holding Michigan to a run on Jonathan Kim’s sacrifice fly to score Hamchuk (single). Hamchuk went 3 for 5 with 2 runs and 3 RBI.
Coil threw 29 pitches two days after he threw 12 against Kansas State.
“[He was] maybe a little tired [but[ the game should have been over,” Van Horn said. “After that [error] I think he was tired — tired of being out there.”
Arkansas used seven relief pitchers. Starter Gage Wood left with the team’s medical staff after throwing a warmup pitch before the start of the third inning.
“It’s right in his shoulder, but it’s kind of in a different spot,” Van Horn said. “We’ve got an MRI set up for tomorrow, but the doctors feel good about it.”
Wood allowed an unearned run in the first inning on the first of Aloy’s 2 errors. A fielding error on a potential double-play ball allowed designated hitter Cade Ladehoff (single) to score.
Wood allowed 2 hits and struck out 6 in 2 innings. He threw 29 of 39 pitches for strikes.
“I felt like our starter was throwing the ball pretty good until he got hurt,” Van Horn said. “Obviously we were planning on going 5 [innings with Wood], so it threw a little bit of a wrench into our pitching plans.”
Aloy made up for the defensive mistakes with a big day at the plate. The junior finished 4 for 4 with 1 walk, 3 runs and 2 RBI, including a solo home run off the right-field foul pole in the fifth inning to put the Razorbacks ahead 8-1.
“I’m kind of not rushing and taking my time and relaxing, being able to see every pitch,” Aloy said.
Aloy doubled against Michigan right-hander Gavin DeVooght in the second inning to begin a 1-out rally. Logan Maxwell followed with a walk and Brent Iredale was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Aloy scored when Cam Kozeal reached on an error by first baseman Jeter Ybarra, and Arkansas went ahead 2-1 when Kendall Diggs hit into a fielder’s choice RBI that scored Maxwell.
Iredale’s 2-run, 2-out single with the bases loaded scored Charles Davalan (double) and Aloy (walk) in the second to put Arkansas ahead 4-1.
Diggs doubled to lead off the third, and Nolan Souza walked and Justin Thomas was hit by a pitch to bring the top of the order to the plate with the bases loaded. The Razorbacks increased their lead to 7-1 on back-to-back RBI singles by Davalan and Aloy.
“I thought we came out offensively and did a good job of working walks, got hit by pitches and drove in a few runs,” Van Horn said.
Van Horn said he liked the approach of “three or four” hitters, but did not mention names. In addition to Aloy’s big day, Davalan went 2 for 5 with 2 RBI, Maxwell drew 2 walks, and Iredale, Kozeal and Diggs had 1 RBI apiece.
“We’ve just got to get some guys going,” Van Horn said.
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