Parker Powers Diamond Hogs to 6-1 Win Over No. 21 Tennessee

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Blake Parker hit a sixth-inning grand slam and Nick Schmidt tossed his third career complete game as No. 13 Arkansas defeated No. 21 Tennessee 6-1 on Friday at Baum Stadium in front of 7,627 fans.

It was Parker’s second home run of the season, and his second career grand slam. The Fayetteville, Ark. native’s previous grand slam came in the 2005 season opener at Dallas Baptist, Feb. 11, 2005.

Tennessee starting pitcher James Adkins (4-3) had held the Hogs hitless for the first 5.1 innings before freshman designated hitter Wayne Hrozek doubled home a run in the bottom of the sixth.

Arkansas then loaded the bases for Parker and the junior third basemen busted out of a 1-for-27 slump over his last 10 games when he cracked a towering two-strike grand slam over the left-center field. The blast extended the Razorbacks’ lead to 5-0.

The five-run outburst in the sixth was more than enough for Schmidt (5-2), who fanned 11 for his fourth double-digit strikeout performance. He has struck out 35 batters in his last 22.2 innings of work over three-SEC starts.

Adkins also tossed a complete game for the Volunteer, going eight innings and allowing six runs on nine hits. He struck out five and walked two on 121 pitches.

The Razorbacks improve to 22-5 overall and 3-4 in the Southeastern Conference. Tennessee falls to 17-9 and 1-5 in SEC play.

Freshman second basemen Logan Forsythe finished off the Hogs’ scoring with the second home run of his career, a solo shot to left, making the score 6-0 in the bottom of the eight inning. Forsythe’s home runs have come in back-to-back games.

Tennessee’s Kelly Edmondson ended Schmidt’s bid for a shutout in the ninth with a two-out, full count home run for the Volunteers’ lone run.

Senior right fielder Chris Hollensworth and sophomore catcher Brian Walker led the Razorbacks at the plate with two hits apiece. Parker had four RBI’s while Forsythe and Hrozek each drove in a run.

Chris Kemp was the lone Vol to record a multiple-hit game with two singles.

Arkansas and Tennessee square off at 4:05 p.m. on Saturday from Baum Stadium.

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