Razorbacks Take Series with South Carolina

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Logan Forsythe continued to swing a hot bat for the Arkansas baseball team, leading his squad to a 6-3 victory over 13th-ranked South Carolina on Saturday afternoon at Baum Stadium. The Arkansas win clinches the series with the Gamecocks leaving the door open for a series sweep on Senior Day Sunday afternoon.

The Razorbacks (30-20, 12-13 SEC) used a four-run seventh inning to upset the Gamecocks (34-17, 13-13 SEC) and keep their hopes of the postseason alive and well. The Razorbacks are currently ranked ninth among the SEC with four games left to play.

Forsythe stroked two hits in the game with a run scored and another RBI to bring his consecutive games streak with at least one run batted in to nine games. Over that stretch, Forsythe has driven in 19 runs and stroked 17 hits. The Hogs are 6-3 over that stretch with series wins over #13 South Carolina and #21 Mississippi.

A quick game through the opening innings, both starting pitchers faced the minimum nine batters as the game moved into the top of the fourth. The Gamecocks would be the first team on the scoreboard when they scored one time without getting the ball out of the infield. A line shot in the hole was knocked down by Arkansas first baseman Andy Wilkins and a sacrifice bunt moved the runner into scoring position. A groundout and chopper up the middle scored the game’s first run.

The Razorbacks immediately came back with two in the bottom of the inning as Chase Leavitt led off with a walk. Ben Tschepikow would get the first of his two hits on the day on a hit-and-run play to put runners at first and second. Forsythe would then deliver his first hit to score Leavitt and Tschepikow would cross the plate on a double play to make it 2-1 Arkansas.

South Carolina would pick up single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to again take the lead, this time 3-2, but the Razorbacks would answer with the big inning to take the lead for good.

The Razorback seventh began with a leadoff single by Forsythe which was followed by a Wilkins single. Tim Smalling would make it three singles in a row with a shot up the middle, scoring Forsythe from second base and tying the game. Jeff Nutt would step up to the plate next and appeared to ground into an inning-ending double play, but the relay from the shortstop to complete the second out went awry and allowed Wilkins to score and runners to advance to second and third. Two singles, a walk and hit-by-pitch later and the Razorbacks were on top 6-3.

On the mound, the Razorbacks picked up sterling efforts from both Cliff Springston and Mike Bolsinger. The tandem allowed 11 hits and three earned runs, striking out four and walking just one. Springston would leave the contest with the game tied 2-2 in the sixth inning leading to his no decision. Bolsinger would pick up his fourth win of the season and third in the past two weeks against SEC opponents.

The Razorbacks seek their first SEC series sweep on Sunday afternoon against South Carolina with first pitch slated for 12:05 p.m. For more information regarding Razorback baseball or University of Arkansas athletics please visit www.hogwired.com.