No. 3-ranked South Carolina and 13th ranked Arkansas went back and forth with three lead changes throughout the game but a two-run sixth inning for the Razorbacks and an insurance run in the eighth inning lifted Arkansas to a 7-6 win over the Gamecocks on Saturday afternoon at Baum Stadium.
The loss snaps an eight-game winning streak for Carolina as well as a 12-game win streak in the league. South Carolina is now 35-12 and 15-8 in the SEC with the Razorbacks 34-14 and 12-11 in league play.
Arkansas reliever Tyler Wright earned the win in relief with 1.2 scoreless innings of work. He is now 1-0 on the year. South Carolina starter Jordan Montgomery suffered the loss and is now 4-1 for the season. He allowed five runs on nine hits with two strikeouts in five-plus innings of work. Arkansas reliever Barrett Astin earned his ninth save of the season allowing one run on two hits in one inning with one strikeout.
Arkansas tallied 17 hits on the afternoon. Tim Carver and Derrick Bleeker were each 3-for-4 with Matt Reynolds 3-for-5 with two RBI. Bo Bigham, Jacob Morris and Matt Vinson all had two hits apiece as well. Christian Walker went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI to pace the nine-hit attack for the Gamecocks.
South Carolina won Friday’s game in comeback fashion by an 8-6 score, setting up Sunday’s 2 p.m. rubber match.
