Two-Out Hitting Leads Arkansas Over Memphis

Box Score (PDF)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Redshirt senior Carson Shaddy came through with a big two-out hit in the top of the ninth inning to help No. 5 Arkansas win a roller coaster of a game with the Memphis Tigers, 8-7, at AutoZone Park Tuesday night. Arkansas and Memphis traded leads five times throughout the contest and all eight of the Hogs’ runs were driven in with two outs.

With the win, Arkansas (18-7, 4-2 SEC) snaps a two-game skid it had coming in, utilizing some clutch hitting when it needed it most. On the night, the Hogs were 7-for-15 (.467) with two outs, recording just nine hits in the game.

Tuesday’s game was also the Razorbacks’ sixth one-run game this season, moving them to 3-3 on the year in games decided by a lone run.

The Hitting
Arkansas benefitted from a couple of veterans’ strong performances as Jax Biggers joined Shaddy with a multi-hit performance. Combined, the infield combo went 4-for-8 (.500) at the plate with both totaling two hits each. Shaddy turned in a three-RBI game, his fifth this season with three or more, while Biggers drove in two with two walks and two runs scored.

Biggers got the bats off and running with his solo home run in the third inning to tie the game at 1-1. It was his third home run of the year and the 11th-straight game that Arkansas has hit at least one home run.

As for Shaddy, his bat continues to shine in the nine hole as he’s totaled 18 hits for a .419 average, with 13 RBIs and four homers over his last 12 games.

Freshman Casey Martin also turned in a big game at the plate, going 2-for-5, as well, with three runs driven in, all in go-ahead fashion. It was Martin’s first multi-hit game in his last seven and ninth multi-hit performance this year.

The Pitching
Freshman Jackson Rutledge picked up the victory, throwing a near-spotless ninth inning after his teammates gave him a one-run lead in the top half. Rutledge struck out two of the four batters he faced in the frame for his second win of the year and has yet to give up an earned run in seven appearances.

Junior Barrett Loseke had a second-straight effective outing, going nearly scoreless over 4.1 innings with just two hits allowed and two strikeouts on 63 pitches. Including his start at Charlotte last week, Loseke has given up just one earned run in his last 7.1 innings and has walked only two while striking out 10.

Up Next
The Razorbacks head to Oxford, Mississippi to close out their roadtrip as they’ll start a three-game series with the No. 4 Ole Miss Rebels on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Swayze Field. This will be Arkansas’ third-straight top-five opponent to start conference play and second-straight on the road.

Both Thursday and Friday’s games will have a 6:30 p.m. start time, while Saturday’s series finale will have a first pitch of 1:30 p.m. All games this weekend will be televised online on SEC Network+.

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