Logan Forsythe Delivers Game-Winning Single in 11th Inning

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Freshman Logan Forsythe lined a 2-2 pitch from Jake McCarter up the middle with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning to give No. 14 Arkansas a 4-3 win over No. 6 Alabama on Friday night in front of 7,705 fans at Baum Stadium.

Forsythe entered the game as a pinch hitter for Blake Parker in the sixth inning and stayed at third base. He was 0 for 3 on the night and hitting .154 for the season before the game-winning RBI. The hit came with the bases loaded and two outs.

The win improved the Razorbacks record to 32-15 on the year and 12-10 in the Southeastern Conference. It was Arkansas’ 14th win over a top-25 team this season while improving to 3-0 in extra-inning games this season. The Crimson Tide fall to 34-14 overall and 15-7 in SEC play.

Devin Collis earned the win out of the bullpen to improve to 7-2 on the season. He worked two-hitless innings and stuck out one.

Wade LeBlanc started and worked six-plus innings, allowing just two hits – both to Brian Walker. David Robertson pitched three innings in relief of LeBlanc and did not allow a hit. Jake McCarter took the loss to fall to 6-1 on the season, allowing just the one hit to Forsythe.

The Alabama pitching staff allowed just three hits all night, but issued a school-record 16 walks to keep the Razorback in the game.

Walker put the Hogs on top early with a one-out double into the left-center field gap in the second inning. The double was his ninth of the season and scored Jake Dugger, who drew a walk to lead off the inning.

Alabama answered right back with a RBI single up the middle by Matt Downs in the top of the third inning. Schmidt struck out his 100th batter of the season in third inning, becoming the sixth pitcher in Razorback history to accomplish the feat.

Schmidt worked seven innings and allowed three runs on six hits while striking out seven. Brian McLelland worked two innings of relief and allowed just one Crimson Tide hit.

LeBlanc settled down in the third inning and quickly retired the side in order and the Crimson Tide responded in the top of the fourth inning. Two walks and an error in the inning by the Razorbacks led to Alabama’s on Brandon Belcher’s RBI ground out to take a 2-1 lead.

Alabama extended the lead to 3-1 in the seventh inning on a two-out RBI single by Ryan Rhoden.

Walker got the Hogs’ second hit of the game when he lined a 2-1 pitch into the Tide bullpen in right field. It was Walker’s fourth home run of the season.

LeBlanc walked the next batter, Matt Willard, in an 11-pitch at bat to ended his night in favor of the right-hander Robertson. After Willard was forced at second base on a Craig Gentry ground ball, Gentry sole second base and moved to third on a throwing error by Tide catcher Kody Valverde. Robertson then uncorked a wild pitch to score Gentry and tie the game at 3-all.

The Razorbacks and Crimson Tide continue their series at 4:05 p.m. Saturday from Baum Stadium.

Baseball Graduates Honored Prior to Game

Three Razorback baseball players were honored for graduating prior to Friday night’s game. Seniors Charley Boyce, Trey Holloway and Josh Smith have all received their degrees from the University of Arkansas. Boyce graduated in December of 2005 while Holloway and Smith will receive their degrees next weekend.