Box Score

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.- No. 7 Wichita State (34-11) committed three errors that led to four unearned runs in the 10-2 loss to No. 3 Arkansas (33-11).

 

The night started on a sour note when, with one out, Damon Sublett misplayed a ground ball at second base. Logan Forsythe put one back up the middle and Jeff Nutt drew a walk to load the bases. Casey Coon then sent one sailing over the left field fence for a grand slam. Dusty Coleman booted a ball at short before the Shockers managed a strikeout and groundout to keep the damage at four runs.

 

The Razorbacks put together doubles from Matt Willard and Ben Tschepikow to add another in the bottom of the second.

 

The Shockers finally managed to scratch one out in the top of the third. Sublett drew a one-out walk and Andy Dirks followed with a double over the left fielder's head. An error by Casey Coon allowed Sublett to round third and come home, cutting in to 5-1.

 

After giving up two singles and a walk to load the bases with one out in the third, reliever Anthony Capra got out of trouble as Sublett speared a line drive and Dirks handled one in right field.

 

Wichita State wasn't so lucky in the fourth, however, as a third error cost the Shockers three more runs. Two walks and then two strikeouts started the inning before Danny Hamblin popped a high fly ball to Danny Jackson in foul territory. As Sublett called the first baseman off, the ball floated back fair and Sublett couldn't hold on to it for the out. Two runs scored on the error and Hamblin crossed with a single by Wayne Hrozek.

 

The beginning of the fifth looked promising as WSU made it 8-2 with a lead off hits by Bret Bascue and Coleman. Bascue pushed one pass the diving center fielder for a triple and Coleman drove him in with a single to right field. The Shockers kept hitting it hard, but right at the Arkansas fielders as a flyout, lineout and fielder's choice quickly killed the rally.

 

Arkansas didn't let up, scoring Willard after a hit-by-pitch, single and groundout in the fifth. The shortstop crossed home again in the seventh via two infield singles and a hit to shallow center field, making it 10-2.

 

The Razorback bull pen shut down WSU bats from there, allowing only one hit, which was erased on a double play, over the last four innings.

 

Max Hutson fell to 0-2 on the season, allowing four earned runs on four hits and one walk in 1.1 innings. Both teams relied heavily on relievers with Wichita State using six pitchers and Arkansas sending five to the mound. Freshman starter Dallas Keuchel improved to 5-2, giving up two hits and striking out two in 2.2 innings.

 

The Shockers come home for a conference series this weekend against Evansville. Friday's game starts at 7 p.m., Saturday's at 2 p.m. and Sunday's at 1 p.m.

 

-Wichita State-