Schmidt Throws Six Hitless; Hogs Knock Off No. 18 TCU 5-2
EDINBURG, Texas. – Arkansas’ sophomore left-hander Nick Schmidt decided to wait another week before allowing his first hit of the 2006 season.
The Razorbacks’ ace pitched six innings and did not allow a hit in his second straight outing. Schmidt (2-0) has not allowed a hit in 12 innings of work this season. He stuck out seven and walked one on 91 pitches.
Schmidt’s outing helped the 17th-ranked Razorbacks improved to 4-0 on the season with a 5-2 win over No. 18 TCU at the Al Ogletree Classic at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium in Edinburg, Texas, on Friday.
“TCU had to face a tough, tough pitcher today with the wind blowing in, and it worked out.” Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said. “It was a good job [by Schmidt]. He was throwing all three pitches. We were mixing it up pretty good."
Brian McLelland relieved Schmidt in the top of the seventh inning just as he did in Arkansas’ combined no-hitter against Oklahoma State last Saturday in Mobile. The junior right-hander from DeQueen, Ark., surrendered two runs on five hits in 1.2 innings of work. Keith Conlon broke up the no-hitter in the seventh inning and then delivered a two-run double in the eighth inning off McLelland.
McLelland was lifted for Devin Collis with two outs in the eighth inning. Collis came on and got Matt McGuirk to ground out to first base to end the inning. He then closed things out for his third save in four Razorback games this season.
The Hogs’ offensive attack jumped on TCU ace Sam Demel (0-1) early with three first inning runs. Demel allowed five runs – three earned – on seven hits in four innings of work. He struck out five and walked two.
Back-to-back two-out doubles in the opening frame by freshman Wayne Hrozek and sophomore Brian Walker sparked the Arkansas’ offense. Hrozek doubled down the right-field line to plate two runs and Walker followed with another double to right field to score Hrozek.
“I thought it was a great hitting job anytime you can score three total runs with two outs when they had a chance to get out of the inning,” Van Horn said. “Hrozek got a good hit when the wind pushed it away (from the right fielder) and that scored us two. In another pitch or two we get a double down the line and got another run (from Walker).”
The Razorbacks extended the lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning with a RBI double by Craig Gentry and sacrifice fly to left field by Danny Hamblin.
Gentry led the Razorbacks with three hits in three at bats before leaving the game in the top of the seventh inning with a sore hand. Conlon led the Horned Frogs with two hits and two RBI.
Arkansas returns to the diamond at 1 p.m. Saturday to face Stephen F. Austin in the Al Ogletree Classic in Edinburg, Texas. The Jacks will send RHP Jake Leonhardt to the hill while the Hogs will counter with veteran RHP Charley Boyce.
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