Pitching Puts Arkansas over Indiana

Playing conditions did not deter the #2 Arkansas Razorback pitchers as they fanned half the batters faced in route to a 5-2 victory over the Indiana Hoosiers.  Weather conditions for the Karbach Round Rock baseball Classic resembled football weather with overcast skies and temperatures in the 30’s. 

Starting pitcher Connor Noland (1-0) earned the win for the Razorbacks, allowing 1 runs on 5 hits in 6 innings.  Noland struck-out 10 batters and walked 2.  Reliever Ramage Kole earned the save (2), giving up 1 hit in 3 scoreless innings worked.  Kole struck-out 6 batters and walked 1. 

Arkansas took command of the ballgame from the opening frame.   Cayden Wallace took a 2-1 pitch and hugged the left field line for a double.  Wallace scored when Robert Moore sent the next pitch through the right side of the infield for an RBI single. 

The Razorback bats opened-up in the fourth inning, batting around the order for a 4-0 lead.  Brady Slavens began with a double down the right field line, then scoring on Michael Turner’s triple to right center.  The bases were loaded when Jalen Battle drew a walk and Zack Gregory was hit by a pitch.  Turner was forced out at the plate on Peyton Stovall’s infield grounder, but Arkansas  kept the bases full.  Battle scored on a walk to Wallace, and Gregory scored on a fielding error on Moore’s grounder by first baseman Kip Fougerrousse. 

Indiana put their first run on the board on Josh Pyne’s double to right center in the fifth inning.  Arkansas responded in the seventh inning when Moore’s single up the middle score Wallace for an unearned run. 

Indiana threatened in the eighth inning when Phillip Glasser reached first on a shot down the left field line, then moved to second base on a walk to Bobby Whalen.  Glasser scored on a fielding error by Arkansas’ third baseman Wallace, moving Whalen to second and putting Brock Tibbits on first.  The rally fizzled when pinch hitter Carter Mathison struck-out. 

Indiana’s John-Biagio Modugno (0-2) suffered the loss, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 5 hits in 5 innings.  He struck-out 3 batters, walked 3, and one hit by pitch.