April 29, 2000
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas overcame four Kentucky homeruns and a six-run deficit after four innings for a 12-10 win over theWildcats on Saturday in the second game of a three-game SoutheasternConference series at Baum Stadium.
The win was the first by the Razorbacks (18-28, 3-18 SEC) in conferenceplay since March 11 and snapped their school-record losing streak in leaguegames at 18. The victory was the first by UA in 11 home SEC games thisseason.
The loss was the fifth in seven games for UK (31-14-1, 8-13-1 SEC), whichtrails Mississippi for the eighth and final berth in the SEC Tournamentscheduled for May 17-21 in Hoover, Ala.
Arkansas reliever Josh Merryman (1-1) worked a career-high 4-2/3 innings inrelief to earn his first collegiate victory. Merryman gave up three runs(earned) on five hits and struck out one.
UK reliever Mark Michael (4-2) suffered the loss after giving up three runs(earned) on three hits in 1-1/3 innings of work.
Arkansas Jack Welsh and Scott Crossett tied their career highs in hits withfour each. Greg Blum added three hits and tied a career high with four RBI,two on a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh inning that gave theHogs a 9-7 lead they would not relinquish.
UA led 12-8 after eight innings, but Aaron McGlone’s two-run single in thetop of the ninth cut the lead to 12-10 and brought Gary Hogan Jr. out ofthe Arkansas bullpen. Vince Harrison greeted Hogan with a single that putthe tying run on first base, but Hogan retired the next two batters to endthe game and earn his fourth save of the season.
The Hogs appeared headed for their 19th-consecutive SEC loss when UKroughed up UA starter Brad Bohannan for six runs in the first threeinnings. John Wilson hit a solo homer in the first, Robert Newton andHarrison added two-run blasts in the second and third innings,respectively. Wilson’s homer was the 17th of the season. Newton’s home runwas his sixth on the year while Harrison’s round-tripper was his fifth ofthe season. Wilson and Harrison led the Wildcats with three hits each.
UK starter Rob Corrado held Arkansas to two runs on eight hits through fiveinnings but loaded the bases with one out in the sixth. Scott Crossettcleared the bases with a single that Beau Moore misplayed in center field,allowing Crossett to go to third base and bringing Michael out of theWildcat bullpen. Blum followed with a double down the left-field line thatscored Crossett to cut the Kentucky lead to 7-6 after six innings.
In the bottom of the seventh, Welsh’s bunt single scored Jeff Fletcher totie the game at 7-7 before Blum put the Hogs ahead with his two-run single.UKs Breck Price cut the UA lead to 9-8 in the top of the eighth with a solohome run, his third homer of the season.
The series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.
