Razorbacks lose lead late fall to Ole Miss

FAYETTEVILLE – Scott Lyons and James McCann each had two hits, but three runs over the opening two innings were not enough for the No. 16 Arkansas baseball team against the No. 9 Ole Miss Rebels at Baum Stadium on Friday night in Fayetteville, 9-3.

Arkansas (32-18, 14-13 SEC) held a 3-2 lead, but a three-error seventh inning led to six Ole Miss (38-15, 18-10 SEC) runs and to an eventual defeat.

The Razorbacks opened the game loose and after a four-batter top of the first, the Hogs tallied a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. Chase Leavitt grounded to second, but a wide throw pulled the first baseman off the bag. Initially called out on the play, Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn came out to argue the call which was eventually reversed placing a runner on first. Arkansas’ next batter, Lyons, crushed a 3-2 pitch over the Arkansas bullpen in left field to give the Razorbacks the lead.

A sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second by Leavitt scored Collin Kuhn from third base to make the score 3-0, an advantage that would last until the fateful seventh inning.

Ole Miss would cut the Arkansas lead to 3-2 in the fourth, but the momentum of the contest changed in an instant in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Lyons stroked a double down the left-field line that was misplayed in the corner. Attempting to stretch the hit into a triple, Lyons would begin his headfirst slide into the bag and collide with the Ole Miss third baseman. The collision would keep Lyons down for several minutes as the Arkansas athletic training staff attended to him. Lyons did get up from the hit and walk off the field to the cheers of the Razorback crowd, but following the play Ole Miss snatched the momentum and carried it to the victory.

Arkansas tallied six hits on the night with Lyons home run and double and a single and double by McCann. Travis Sample and Kuhn also contributed at the plate with a double and single, respectively.

Sophomore Brett Eibner got the start and a no decision in the game by throwing 5.1 innings and allowing two runs on four hits and three walks. He gave way to T.J. Forrest who got out of a jam in the sixth, but touched up for three runs and the loss in the seventh. Sam Murphy, Scott Limbocker and Christian Kowalchuk finished off the game for the Hogs.

Arkansas and Ole Miss conclude the regular season on Saturday afternoon at Baum Stadium on Senior Day with a 2:05 p.m. first pitch. For more information regarding Razorback baseball or University of Arkansas athletics please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.