McGuire's Strong Relief Outing Not Enough in Razorbacks' Loss to Horned Frogs

ARLINGTON, Texas – Tate McGuire twirled five no-hit innings with four strikeouts in relief, but it was not enough to propel No. 7 Arkansas (1-1) past No. 10 TCU (2-0) in a 5-4 loss Saturday night in front of an announced crowd of 22,384, the single-day attendance record for college baseball at Globe Life Field, in the Shriners Children’s College Showdown.

With the Saturday’s loss, the Hogs fell to 10-4 all-time in games played at Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers.

The Horned Frogs tagged Razorback starter Hunter Dietz for four runs over the ballgame’s first two innings of play to open an early 4-0 advantage. The left-hander, making his first collegiate start on the mound, departed after a career-long two innings of work, having allowed four runs on three hits and three walks while striking out a career-high five.

Arkansas cut its deficit to three in the top of the third with an RBI from Maika Niu, but TCU responded with a run in the bottom half of the fourth to reopen a 5-1 lead. The Hogs’ biggest offensive breakthrough came in the fifth inning when Camden Kozeal scored on a passed ball before Reese Robinett’s RBI double scored Niu from third to make it a 5-3 game.

Kuhio Aloy’s solo shot, his first of the season, in the top of the seventh moved Arkansas one run closer. Aloy’s 448-foot home run to the second deck in left field against TCU right-hander Zack James to lead off the inning cut the lead to 5-4.

Horned Frogs pitcher Noah Franco, however, would silence the Razorback bats for the remainder of the game. The left-hander tossed three shutout frames with four strikeouts to close out the contest and secure TCU’s narrow victory.

Damian Ruiz was the lone Arkansas player to record multiple hits in Saturday night’s setback, tallying a pair of singles, drawing a walk and swiping his first bag of the season. Kozeal, meanwhile, drew a career-high three walks in the game.

The Razorbacks will conclude the Shriners Children’s College Showdown tomorrow afternoon. First pitch between Arkansas and Texas Tech from Globe Life Field is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, on FloCollege.

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