Arkansas shuts out SEMO, 10-0
FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas scored eight runs in the first three innings, while five Razorback pitchers combined for the team’s fourth shutout of the season as Arkansas defeated Southeast Missouri State, 10-0, on Tuesday night at Baum Stadium.
"I thought we played well tonight," Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said. "We played solid defense. I mixed up the lineup, played some guys we don’t play a lot, played some guys out of position and I thought we did a good job up and down the line up, offensively. Our pitchers threw well. Brandon (Moore) got out of a couple of jams. I know they left a lot of runners on. It was a solid game all the way around."
With the win, Arkansas earns its 30th win of the season, improving to 30-13 on the year, while Southeast Missouri State drops to 27-17 with the loss.
Arkansas starter Brandon Moore earned his third win of the season. Moore, who was on a predetermined pitch count, scattered three hits over four shutout innings, while striking out two.
Four Arkansas relievers preserved the shutout. Nolan Sanburn, Zack Hall, Colby Suggs and Trent Daniel each turned in a scoreless appearance out of the bullpen.
Southeast Missouri State starter Ryan Prickett took the loss to drop to 1-1 on the year. Prickett gave up five runs on seven hits in two innings of work.
All nine Arkansas starters reached base safely in the contest, while eight of the nine Razorback starters had at least one hit. Dominic Ficociello and Collin Kuhn each had a team-high three hits to lead Arkansas at the plate. Ficociello hit his fourth home run of the season and drove in three runs, while Kuhn had a RBI, scored a run and stole two bases to bring his season total to a team-leading 18 steals. Bo Bigham went 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Franco Broyles, Matt Reynolds, Matt Vinson and Jake Wise each added a RBI in the win.
SEMO had seven different players record one hit in the loss.
Arkansas jumped on Prickett from the outset, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first. Bigham led off the inning with a single into right-center field and with one out, Ficcociello launched his fourth home run of the season, a two-run blast, into the Razorback bullpen down the left field line. James McCann was then hit by a pitch. A double down the right field line by Kyle Robinson advanced McCann to third. Reynolds reached on an infield single to score McCann and advance Robinson to third. A base hit to right field by Broyles brought home Robinson and advanced Reynolds to third to put Arkansas in front 4-0. Wise drove in the final run of the inning on a groundout to short to score Reynolds.
The Razorbacks tacked on three more runs in the home half of the third, with all the runs coming with two outs. Kyle Atkins walked to start the rally and was along for the ride on Bigham’s two-run homer over the left field wall. Kuhn then singled and stole second. A double down the right field line by Ficociello scored Kuhn for the eighth Arkansas run of the game.
Arkansas added another run in the sixth inning. Back-to-back one out doubles from McCann and Vinson produced a run as Vinson doubled down the left field line, scoring McCann.
The Razorbacks closed the scoring with a run in the seventh. Wise singled to right center field with one out and then moved to second on a wild pitch. A fly out to right field by Bigham advanced Wise to third with two outs. Kuhn came through with the two-out RBI, singling into center field to score Wise to put Arkansas on top 10-0. The RBI for Kuhn was the 100th of his collegiate career.
Southeast Missouri State had its chances in the game, leaving 14 baserunners on during the contest. The Redhawks stranded the bases loaded twice, including in the top of the ninth.
Arkansas and Southeast Missouri State conclude the two-game midweek series on Wednesday with first pitch set for 6:35 p.m. The game will be televised by CST. Freshman right hander Ryne Stanek (2-1, 4.62) will start for the Razorbacks, while the Redhawks will counter with senior southpaw Jordan Underwood (4-0, 4.65).
