Diamond Hog Update: March 9

This past week saw the Hogs suffer their first loss of the season, as well as the first signs that our young pitching staff still has ample room for improvement.  However, the offense is beginning to click.  Is that a result of weak competition (only one of the Hogs' opponents - McNeese St. -  currently has a winning record).

McNeese State:  Hogs fall behind 3-5 in the 3rd, and 3-8 in the 7th, before finally falling 6-8 for the first loss of the season in Game 1.  The usually solid Geoffrey Davenport gets knocked up for 7 hits and 5 ERs in 2.2 innings. 

Kyle Robinson hits a grand slam in the 1st inning of Game 2, as the Hogs jump out to an early lead and never look back enroute to an 8-3 victory.  True freshman (and Jonesboro native) Cade Lynch notches the win, allowing only 3 hits and striking out 5 in 4 innings.

Wisconsin-Milwaukee:  An offensive showing in Game 1, as 3 different Razorbacks hit HRs in the contest.  Freshman phenom Ryen Stanek looks great through the 3rd, but allows 3 ERs in each of the 4th and 5th innings, as UWM cuts the lead to 7-6.  But, the Hogs add 4 runs in 6th and 8th innings to seal the 15-6 victory.

Errors (6 of 'em!) are story of Game 2, with the Hogs pulling off one of their "patented" come-from behind wins.  Starter Brandon Moore gives up 8 runs (6 earned) in just 3 innings, but the Hogs score 5 runs in the 3rd, and 4 in the 5th, before finally pulling away for the 13-9 victory.

The Razorbacks take advantage of UMW's Sunday pitching for Game 3 by scoring 7 runs on only 6 hits.  After the Panthers tie the game at 3-3 in the 5th, the Diamond Hogs tack on 2 runs in each of the 6th and 7th innings to hang on for a 7-3 win.

Up next for Arkansas is a 4-game road series with San Diego State beginning Thursday, which will be the last non-conference weekend series before SEC play begins.  The Aztecs are not likely to help the Hogs' SoS (they're currently 2-9), but a road series that far out west will do the team some good.  After the sweep of UWM, the Hogs climbed a few spots in every poll (as high as 14th, per USA Today).  The Hogs' stellar 10-1 record is somewhat diminished by the 200+ ranked SoS, but that will change once SEC play starts, for better or worse.