Arkansas beats Missouri State 3-2, denies Bears a trip to College World Series
Zach Jackson bounced off the mound and braced himself as his Arkansas teammates poured out of the dugout.
Jackson, Arkansas’ closer, was more than a one-inning wonder on Sunday. The sophomore right-hander went 3 2/3 high-stress innings to help the Razorbacks to a 3-2 win over Missouri State in the deciding game of the best-of-three NCAA Super Regional in Baum Stadium.
Arkansas, 40-23, scored three runs in the first inning, then dug its heels into the dirt to hang on as Missouri State threatened in seemingly every inning, but could not climb out of the early hole. The Bears left 10 men on base, including seven in the first three innings. It was a theme that prevailed all weekend as the Bears left 30 runners on base in three games.
“It’s something that we have been able to do all year, but hat’s off to their pitching staff,” Missouri State second baseman Dylan Becker said. “They found a way to make pitches when they needed to.”
Jackson came into the game with two runners on and one out in the sixth inning with Arkansas leading 3-1. Becker promptly grounded a single through the right side that brought Blake Graham home, just eluding a tag at home plate with a terrific slide around Razorbacks catcher Tucker Pennell. But that was all the Bears, 49-12, were able to muster off Jackson, who got out of the jam with a strikeout and a fly to right, preserving the 3-2 lead.
Missouri State did not get another baserunner against Jackson, who retired the final 11 batters he faced, including a strikeout of center fielder Tate Matheny to end the game. Jackson was able to mix his pitches effectively, using a 90-plus fastball, and a curve ball that Missouri State coach Keith Guttin called “unhittable.”
Arkansas got to Missouri State starter Jordan Knutson for three runs in the first inning. Bobby Wernes singled and Andrew Benintendi walked, before right fielder Tyler Spoon plated Wernes with an RBI single. Benintendi and Spoon also scored in the inning for a 3-0 lead.
Knutson, 6-2, settled down after that, though, and did not allow a run over the next 5 innings to keep Missouri State in the game.
“In the first inning I was missing spots and not locked in,” Knutson. “They were hitting my mistakes. After the first I knew that I had to bear down and give us a couple of zeros to give us a chance to win.”
Arkansas starter James Teague flirted with disaster seemingly every inning, but found a way to prevent the big hit. Lance Phillips, who earned the win, bridged the gap between Teague and Jackson with 1 1/3 innings of relief.
Arkansas, which was 12-13 at one point this season, turned its season around to win 28 of its last 38 games. The Razorbacks won the Stillwater, Okla. Regional and, thanks to a scheduling quirk, got to host the Super Regional instead of the higher seed Bears. Missouri State was ousted from its home field in Springfield by virtue of a scheduling conflict with the Springfield Cardinals minor league team. Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said the switch was a huge factor considering that more than 35,000 mostly Arkansas fans jammed into Baum Stadium for the three games.
“Obviously it’s an advantage for us, no doubt,” Van Horn said. “I’d be lying if I told you different. Look at that crowd and how loud they were. They kept us going. It’s 90 degrees. We’re not used to that weather. Playing in it and all the emotions up and down. It wears you down.
“But it was an advantage this weekend. There’s no doubt about it. I feel bad for Missouri State. I feel bad for Coach Guttin that they didn’t have a place. It’s too bad because that’s a really good club. But I’m extremely happy that we got to play here.”
The Razorbacks will take on Virginia in the opening round of the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., next Saturday. The game time has not been set.
This story was originally published June 7, 2015 at 5:33 PM with the headline "Arkansas beats Missouri State 3-2, denies Bears a trip to College World Series."