Arkansas opens Missouri series with 6-3 win

FAYETTEVILLE – Derrick Bleeker went 3-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored to lead No. 18 Arkansas to a 6-3 win over Missouri on Tuesday night at Baum Stadium.

Arkansas improves to 32-13 with the win, while Missouri drops to 23-20 with the loss.

Bleeker reached base all four times he came to the plate, hitting a pair of doubles, a triple and reaching on a walk. Bleeker finished with two RBI and two runs scored. Jacob Morris and John Clay Reeves each had a hit and a RBI, while Dominic Ficociello also drove in a run.

Brannon Champagne, Case Munson, Andreas Plackis and Patrick Quintanilla each had a hit for Missouri. Quintanilla added a RBI, while Nick Moore also had a RBI.

Nolan Sanburn (3-1) started on the mound for the Razorbacks and earned the win after pitching four shutout innings, giving up just one hit and striking out seven.

Tyler Wright was effective out of the bullpen, throwing three scoreless frames and striking out three.

Missouri starter Blake Holovach (5-4) took the loss for the Tigers. Holovach gave up five runs, just one earned, on six hits in five innings.

The Razorbacks struck first with a run in the bottom of the first. Tim Carver led off the game with a single to center and then advanced to third on a hit-and-run single to right field by Jacob Mahan. A sacrifice fly to center field by Ficociello brought home Carver with the game’s first run.

Arkansas added four runs in the bottom of the third. Mahan started the rally with a walk and then advanced to second after an infield single by Matt Reynolds. Bo Bigham then hit a grounder up the middle that went off the shortstop’s glove and into center field for an error. Mahan scored on the play, while Reynolds advanced to third. After a pop out by Brian Anderson, Bleeker brought home Reynolds and Bigham with a triple just inside the right field line. Reeves then grounded a single to center to score Bleeker to put the Razorbacks up 5-0.

The Razorbacks stretched the lead to 6-0 with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Bleeker began the inning with a double to the left-center field gap and then advanced to third after a ground out by Reeves. Morris ripped a double down the left field line, scoring Bleeker.

Missouri got on the board with two runs in the top of the eighth. Dillon Everett reached on a fielding error by David Masters to start the inning and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Gavin Stark drew a walk to put runners at first and second. A wild pitch moved Everett to third and Stark to second. Another wild pitch scored Everett and put Stark at third. Quintanilla then singled to left to score Stark.

The Tigers added another run in the top of the ninth. Munson hit a leadoff double down the right field line and then moved to third after a groundout by Andreas Plackis. A ground out to short by Moore scored Munson to cut the lead to 6-3. Everett recorded the final out of the ballgame with a groundout to short.

Arkansas and Missouri conclude the two-game midweek series on Wednesday with first pitch set for 3:05 p.m. The Razorbacks will start redshirt junior left-handed pitcher Trent Daniel (1-0, 4.70), while Missouri will start freshman righty John Miles (3-1, 5.47).