Schmidt Strikes Out 10 as Hogs Sweep Doubleheader from Louisiana Tech

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Nick Schmidt allowed his first three hits of the season but turned in his most dominating performance of the season with 10 strikeouts in seven innings in a 13-2 win on Friday evening to sweep a doubleheader from Louisiana Tech.

Schmidt improved to 3-0 on the season, allowing two runs – one earned – on 107 pitches. He left the game with a 0.47 ERA with a .050 opponent batting average for the season. He has pitched 19 innings this year and struck out 23 while walking just five. He fanned 10 and walked just one on Friday.

True freshman transfer David Hum started his first game as a Razorback at designated hitter after receiving his release from Notre Dame earlier in the week. He ripped a double over the left-fielder’s head in his first at bat and then lined a RBI single to right in his second at bat. Hum finished the day 2 for 5.

The Razorbacks blew the game open in the seventh inning with six runs highlighted by a two-RBI double by Jake Dugger and a RBI double by Blake Parker. Chris Hollensworth, James Ewing and Danny Hamblin also added RBI singles.

Ewing led the Hogs’ 14-hit attack with a 3-for-5 performance and a career-high three RBI.

Schmidt pitched 13.2 innings this season before allowing his first hit to Tech’s Brady Bascle with two outs in the second inning. The fly ball was hit into a howling wind in right field and fell in front of freshman Wayne Hrozek, who was making his first start in right field.

Patrick Thomas plated the Bulldogs’ only two runs with a two-RBI single in the fifth inning.

Freshman right-hander Michael Wild and Brett Bollman made their Razorback debuts in the eighth and ninth innings respectively. Both pitchers sat down the side in order.

The Razorbacks offense scored 23 runs and pounded out 26 hits in Friday’s double header to raise the team batting average to .313. The Hogs have scored double-digit runs in each of their last for games.

Friday’s paid attendance of 6,902 was the largest number of tickets sold for a season opener in school history.

The Hogs and Bulldogs will conclude the three-game series at 1:05 p.m. Saturday. The game will be televised by Cox Sports Television and can be heard on the Razorback Baseball Radio Network.

Sophomore Shaun Seibert will get the start on the hill for Arkansas.

Game 1: Arkansas 10, Louisiana Tech 9

Jake Dugger continued to drive the No. 17 Arkansas offense with a 3-for-4 performance and his third home run of the season in a 10-9 win over Louisiana Tech in the first game of an opening day double header on Friday afternoon at Baum Stadium.

A season-opening record crowd of 4,258 fans watched Dave Van Horn’s Razorbacks improved to 7-0 with the win after trailing 4-0 early in the game. The loss dropped the Bulldogs to 3-5 on the season.

Dugger’s home run proved to be the game-winning hit in the sixth inning, breaking an 8-8 tie. He tripled over the center fielder’s head in the fifth inning and singled in the second inning. The game-winning hit was his fourth this season to lead the team.

Chris Rhoads made his first appearance of the season out of the bullpen to improve to 3-0. He allowed just one unearned run on two hits in 2.1 innings of work. Devin Collis pitched the final 1.1 innings to earn his fourth save of the season. Collis did not allow a hit and struck out three of the four batters he faced.

Tech leadoff hitter and center fielder Adam Cobb led the Bulldogs’ 12-hit attack with three hits, two runs scored and one RBI.

Arkansas also pounded out 12 hits with Blake Parker and Brian Walker picking up two hits each.

Charley Boyce started the game on the mound for the Hogs and lasted 3.1 innings and allowed five runs.

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