HawgBeat – Diamond Hogs edge out Auburn to win the series
Fayetteville — A near-freezing Saturday at Boom Walker Stadium wasn’t enough to cool down the hot Arkansas bats.
The Diamond Hogs put together nine runs as Will McIntyre converted right-handed in his second straight start, completing the recipe for a 9-3 victory – 12th in a row – over the Auburn Tigers to win the series.
The steady flow of offense started with three unearned runs in the first inning.
Cole Foster’s errant throw at Auburn shortstop allowed leadoff Tavian Gusenberger to reach first base, and two free passes loaded the bases with one hit. Left-handed Zach Crotchfelt fanned the batter for the second inning, removing him from any responsibility in the earned run column, but designated hitter Kendall Diggs emptied the bases with a double to opposite field.
The free pass hit again in the top of the second, which led to the Tigers’ first run of the game. With the bases loaded and no one out, left fielder Chris Stanfield bounced to an RBI fielder’s choice, but that was all he could manage against Arkansas right Will McIntyre in the inning.
Arkansas responded with two runs in the second half. Shortstop John Bolton’s single paved the way for his third Gosenberger of the season, who moved the lead to 5-1.
McEntire’s unscored bid came to an end in the fourth, when Auburn contact player Bryson Weir hit the first of two bombs in front of big right. Two singles later that inning was not a problem, as McIntyre retired the eighth and ninth batters to clip them.
The Bryant native scored six games against the next seven Tigers, finishing the afternoon with 91 runs batted in, six innings pitched, five hits, three earned runs, two walks and six strikeouts. He turned the ball over to right-handed Dylan Carter for the seventh with a 9-3 lead, thanks to four scores in the bottom of the fifth.
Second baseman Peyton Stovall had the first of nine pigs hit in the frame, chasing Crotchfelt with a single. Arkansas steadily moved the line with a combination of walks and singles as a no. 6-9 batters each drove in an inning, including a leadoff single off Hunter Grimes.
Carter kicked his second nine-hit of the season and second of the Razorbacks in most games allowed, one hit, no walk and no run in 54 pitches.
Arkansas can sweep Auburn when the two teams battle for the third time at 2 p.m. Sunday. The contest will be broadcast live on SEC Network Plus, and can be accessed through the ESPN app.
