Schmidt Hurls Complete Game as Hogs Down Minnesota 5-1

MINNEAPOLIS – Arkansas junior southpaw Nick Schmidt hurled his first complete game of the season and struck out 11 to lead the fifth-ranked Razorbacks to a 5-1 win over Minnesota in the first game of a doubleheader at the Metrodome on Sunday.

It was the fourth complete game of Schmidt’s career and his 10th career double-digit strikeout game. He improved to 3-0 on the season and lowered his ERA to 1.50.

The Razorbacks improved to 10-4 on the season while the Golden Gophers fell to 4-2. UM starting pitcher Tyler Oakes (1-1) took the loss after allowing four runs on eight hits and walking three.

The Razorbacks opened the game with three runs on four hits in the first inning off Oakes. Jake Dugger singled through the right side and Ben Tschepikow followed with a double down the left-field line. Casey Coon flied to center to score Dugger and Danny Hamblin laid down a bunt single to plate Tschepikow. Logan Forsythe drove home the Hogs’ third run with a bunt single.

Dan Lyons quickly got the Golden Gophers on the board in the bottom half of the first inning with a solo home run to right field. UA starter Nick Schmidt left a fastball up in the zone and Lyons hammered it over the 343-feet sign down the left-field line. It was the first home run allowed by Schmidt this season.

Coon added to his RBI total and the Arkansas lead in the second inning with his second sacrifice fly of the game to center field. It was Coon’s 24th RBI of the season and extended the UA lead to 4-1.

Arkansas tacked on its fifth run of the day in the sixth inning with a RBI single to right field by Tschepikow.

Dugger and Tschepikow led the Razorbacks’ offensive attack with three hits while Hamblin chipped in with his first multiple hit game of the season, going 2 for 5 with a run scored and a RBI. Forsythe also extended his hitting streak to nine games.