GAME 29 Thread: ARKANSAS (14-14, 3-6 SEC) vs. AUBURN (18-11, 3-6 SEC)

[A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S]

         

        ARKANSAS at AUBURN -- FRIDAY at 6:00pm

[A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S]

First pitch is set for 6:00PM FRIDAY. Video of this game will be streamed online on SEC Network Plus, accessible at WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app. This game will NOT be televised. Saturday's game will be televised nationally on SEC Network while Sunday's game will have video streamed online on SEC Network Plus and the WatchESPN App.

The Razorbacks (14-14, 3-6 SEC) are on the road and back into SEC play for a 3 game series at Plainsman Park against the Tigers of Auburn (18-11, 3-6 SEC). The Tigers have won the last five series and lead the all-time series 43-34, including a 20-13 mark in Plainsman Park. The Hogs and Tigers begin the series in a 3 way tie with Mississippi State and just 1 game behind 3 other SEC teams in the overall conference standings.

Arkansas is coming off a SEC series win last weekend by taking 2 of 3 from Ole Miss and losing by 1 run in the Friday game by a score of 5-4. On Tuesday, the Razorbacks lost another close game, 2-0 to Missouri State (#13 RPI) in nonconference play. Razorback pitchers have a 2.40 ERA in the last 5 games while collecting 47 strikeouts. 

Auburn shut out Mississippi State 5-0 last Friday and 4-0 on Saturday before losing the series finale 3-1. Those three runs are the fewest Auburn has allowed in a three-game SEC series since holding South Carolina to three runs in 1992. The Auburn defense has not committed an error in 43.1 innings spanning over six games.

FRIDAYS PROBABLE STARTING PITCHER - ARKANSAS:
Arkansas plans to place junior Trey Killian back into his traditional series-opening role from a year ago. Killian pitched 7.0 perfect innings against Vanderbilt three weeks ago and earned Louisville Slugger National Pitcher of the Week honors. Killian has 16 strikeouts in 21.2 innings of work and two of his four appearances have resulted in quality starts. He is set to make his 24th collegiate start.

FRIDAYS PROBABLE STARTING PITCHER - AUBURN:
Auburn will send Sophomore, RHP, Cole Lipscomb to the mound on Friday. He ranks 27th nationally in Strike Outs per 9 innings at 11.65. He's totaled 41 strikeouts in 31.2 innings pitched and has a 4-0 record on the year.

Friday 6:00pm
Probable Pitchers                 W-L    APP    GS    ERA     IP    SO   BB
ARK - RHP Trey Killian          0-2       4       4    3.74   21.2   16    5
AUB - RHP Cole Lipscomb     4-0       7       3    1.71   31.2   41   11

Saturday 6:03pm
Probable Pitchers                       W-L    APP    GS    ERA       IP      SO    BB
ARK - RHP Dominic Taccolini       5-2       7       7     3.43    39.1     38    15
AUB - RHP Keegan Thompson      5-2      7       7     3.38    45.1     43    10

Sunday 1:00pm
Probable Pitchers                W-L    APP    GS    ERA      IP     SO    BB
ARK - TBA                            --       --      --      --        --      --     --
AUB - RHP Dalton Rentz       1-0      8       8     3.42   23.2    27    13

Dominic Taccolini has won back-to-back starts against SEC teams and will look to make it three straight Saturday against Auburn. He has allowed three earned runs or less in all seven starts this season, including shutting down No. 1 LSU in the series opener and allowing just one run in 6.0 innings of work. He is coming off a seven-strikeout performance against Ole Miss and has a team-best 38 strikeouts on the year.

Arkansas' Zach Jackson will likely play a major role as a series contributing pitcher. 
Zach Jackson's SEC Rankings:
      Category                       Total      Rank
Earned Run Allowed                4          1st
Extra Base Hits Allowed           1          1st
ERA                                    1.33        2nd
Strikeouts Looking                 15         2nd
Runs Allowed                          7         2nd
Hits Allowed                          19       T-2nd



                          Team Comparison
    Hitting
                              Avg.    Runs   Hits   2B   3B    HR    RBI   HBP   K's    SB-Att
Arkansas (14-14)    .287     160    267    45   11    25    138    24   178    26-36
Auburn (18-11)       .280     152    268    53   10    12    135    33   188    19-35

    Pitching
                        ERA        IP      Hits     Runs    ER      BB     K's      B/Avg.
Arkansas           4.47    247.2    234      146    123    135    235     .257
Auburn              3.53    255.0    245      123    100    121    248     .251

The Razorbacks rank fourth in the SEC with 25 home runs on the year. Andrew Benintendi ranks second in the SEC with seven home runs and his 27 runs batted in is tied for fourth in the league.

Auburn's 10 triples this season are the most the Tigers have had in a season since hitting 19 triples in 2012. Daniel Robert is currently riding a career high 9 game hitting streak (14-for-32, .438, 5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 6 R).


DVH Milestone Watch:
Head coach Dave Van Horn is closing in on 500 wins at Arkansas, currently sitting at 498-285 (.636) in his 13th season at the helm of the Razorbacks. He is averaging over 40 wins per season and is the only current SEC head coach to appear in five College World Series.
Here is a short video of DVH taking BP: https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/583795981449330688/pu/vid/1280x720/klv0fH4vUUM7S-ae.mp4


Preview:
http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/news/razorbackbsb-travels-to-auburn-for-weekend-sec-series-04-02-2015

Arkansas Game Notes:
https://ark-platform-sec-prod.silverchalice.co/v3/files/551d5df0e4b092b219a83cb2

Arkansas Baseball Website (stats, roster, schedule, etc.):
http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/sport/m-basebl

Auburn Game Notes:
http://www.auburntigers.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/040215aaa.html

Link to Auburn Baseball Website (roster, stats, schedule, etc.):
http://www.auburntigers.com/sports/m-basebl/aub-m-basebl-body.html

Link to watch live on Watch ESPN:
http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index/_/id/2405201/NCAA-College-Baseball-Arkansas-vs-Auburn-(Baseball)


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For many years, Hogville members who love Razorback Baseball have come together to produce these game threads with play-by-play description for those that depend on it as their only source and for those that just simply enjoy it. These threads have been a foundation for great Hogville discussions and that tradition continues today as this is not a read only thread (all Hogville posting rules apply). If you would like to take part in the play-by-play description (even if only for a inning or two), just speak up.

I am not sure if I will be able to help with play-by-play today. WPS!  :razorback:

[A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S]

Almost ready at Plainsman Park, Auburn
[vine]Ol1K2UL3Tdu[/vine]

[A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S]

.

[hogman64]

is McAfee injured?

[TikiHog]

No I just think Bernall is better

[pigture perfect]

I hate Auburn, in case any wanted to know.

[hogman64]

No I just think Bernall is better

Bernall isn't who I was thinking of him replacing....

[A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S]

Can someone do play by play today?

[SPAL]

I can take it for a few to start

[Razorbacks#1]

Go HOGS!

[PoconoHog]

Can someone do play by play today?

I can help....somebody let me know when to jump in

[ucahogfan]

[Razorbacks#1]

I can help....somebody let me know when to jump in

Awesome, hope you are well my friend

[A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S]

I can take it for a few to start

+1

[A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S]

I can help....somebody let me know when to jump in

+1

[PoconoHog]

SPAL is going to start it off...and then I'll pick it up..
Is that correct?

[A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S]

Thanks uca, I couldn't find it.

[Razorbacks#1]

SPAL is going to start it off...and then I'll pick it up..
Is that correct?

Yes

[PoconoHog]

Yes

Understand....GO HOGS!!!

[A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S]

Don't shoot the messenger, but Malzahn threw out the first pitch.

[SPAL]

I'll do 3 Pocono....you can pick up top 4

[PoconoHog]

I'll do 3 Pocono....you can pick up top 4

I'll be in the bull pen....come in for the 4th inning

[SPAL]

Eagan to start off and takes a strike....

0-1 just outside

1-1 is taken for ball 2

2-1 slapped to the gap in left but out f0r 1

[SPAL]

Serrano now to the plate with an out

Right at the SS fir out 2

[SPAL]

AB first pitch swinging for  fly out to left


A quick 1-2-3 for the hogs

0 runs on 0 hits

[A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S]

                1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9      R   H   E   LOB
HOGS       0                                             0   0   0     0
Auburn                                                    0   0   0     0

[SPAL]

Killian set to deal to Auburn....

Greer up and takes for strike 1

0-1 outsude low

1-1 hit foul

1-2 inside for ball 2

2-2 is low and runs it full

3-2 mussed and Greer walks

1 on

[SPAL]

Hecker bats with a man on

First pitch strike

0-1 pitch misses low

1-1 taken for strike 2

1-2 a little low
2-2 pitch to Eagan....steps on 1st. Couldn't get 2 as the runner was moving...

1 out runner on 2nd

[SPAL]

Logan up with a risp an an out

Looks at strike 1

0-1 fouled behind the screen

Pick off attempt at 2nd was close but to no avail.

0-2 fouled back as the runner was moving

Logan swings and misses for out 2

[SPAL]

Robert bats now with 2 outs...

Backdoor slider gets Robert to look at strike 1

Another pickoff attempt just gets back in. Very close play.

Fouls ff the pitch for strike 2

0-2 pitch now...

Chopped to Nomura who throws to Eagan for the out

0 runs 0 hits 1 left

[A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S]

               1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9       R   H   E   LOB
HOGS       0                                             0   0   0     0
Auburn     0                                             0   0   0     1

[SPAL]

C-Span up in the top of 2

Takes a ball low
1-0 swings and misses

1-1 outside for ball 2

2-1there for a strike

2-2 ripped foul down the first base line

High fly out to right for the out

[SPAL]

Spoon steps in looking for a hit

Swings and fouls one to the screen

0-1 swings and misses

0-2 count now and taken fir a ball...

Ball low 2-2

Chopped foul, remains 2-2

Driven to the gap, stand up DOUBLE for spoon

1 on in RISP with 1 out

[SPAL]

Nomura with an RBI chance now

Fouls the first pitch out of play

0&1 pitch shows bunt, pulls back as the catcher made a good play to keep it in front

1-1 chopped foul to first base side

1-2 count now fouled off his foot.

Grounder to 3rd, close play at first but the call us out. DVH doesn't seem happy. Runner can't advance .

2 outs now for wernes.

[SPAL]

Wernes takes ball 1

Line shot right at SS FOR THE OUT

0 runs on 1 hit.  1 man left

[A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S]

               1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9       R   H   E   LOB
HOGS       0   0                                        0   1   0     1
Auburn     0                                             0   0   0     1

[A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S]

Nomura looked safe at 1b to me.

[GatorHog]

Nomura looked safe at 1b to me.

Same here!   

[SPAL]

Grey fouks the first pitch out if play

0-1 pitch lined to Nomura for the out

1 out

[CJ HOG]

Nomura was safe by half a step!!

[SPAL]

Takes a strike

0-1 driven to right ,over the head of spoon to the wall, and Dease will have a double with an out

[SPAL]

Nelf up with a risp

Rakes a slider high

1-0 bunted foul

1-1misses low

2-1 popped to shallow center....runner can't advance as AB secures out #2

[SPAL]

Eibert  bats with 2 down

Takes ball for 1-0

1-0 looks at a strike

1-1 inside corner for strike 2

1-2 pitch now, and he gets him swinging

0 runs on 1 hit 1 man left.

[A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S]

               1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9       R   H   E   LOB
HOGS       0   0                                        0   1   0     1
Auburn     0   0                                        0   1   0     2

[SPAL]

Bernal leads off and takes ball 1

Swings at pitch 2 to even the count

1-1in for strike 2

1-2 fouled away

And it hit him....BERNAL HBP

[SPAL]

Gosser up with a runner on...

Shows bunt popped up but falls innocently foul.

0-1 bunted foul again

0-2 now takes ball 1 as he didn't show bunt

1-2 swings and lines one to the right fielder. Gosser gets in with a DOUBLE

2ND and 3rd with no outs

[A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S]

Gosser was 0-12 before that last hit. Maybe this is a good sign. :razorback:

[SPAL]

Eagan safety squueze on but takes it back for ball 1

1-0 cracks to the gap , rolls all the way to the wall for a 2 run scoring DOUBLE

hogs lead 2-0

Still no out

[GatorHog]

Woo!