March 8, 2013
Fayetteville, Ark. - Joe Serrano's solo home run with two out in the bottom of the ninth was the difference as Arkansas defeated San Diego State, 4-3, Friday afternoon in Fayetteville. The long ball gave the Razorbacks their lone lead of the day after they had come from behind twice to tie the contest over the first seven innings.
Sophomore left fielder Matt Muñoz staked the Aztec to a 2-0 lead with his first career home run in the bottom of the second after Jake Romanski had walked earlier in the inning. SDSU loaded the bases alter in the frame, but could not cash in.
Arkansas tied the game with a pair of runs in its half of the third off Aztec starter Philip Walby. Those runs came on a walk, single and a pair of wild pitches with two runs scoring on the second of those errant tosses.
SDSU re-took the lead with a run in the top of the fifth. Time Zier's single and a double by Brad Haynal put runners at second and third to start the frame. After a strikeout, Jake Romanski singled up the middle to bring home Zier, but Haynal was thrown out at the plate.
The Razorbacks, however, would tie the game again with a run of their own in the bottom of the seventh. Jacob Mahon led off with a single and was sacrificed to second. That would mark the end of the afternoon for Walby, who departed after 6.1 innings in favor of Justin Hepner. A passed ball moved Mahon to third and he scored on an RBI single by Tyler Spoon.
Walby would not be involved in the decision as his final line included three runs on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
In the bottom of the ninth, Hepner retired the first two batters on a strikeout and come-backer before Serrano connected for his first home run of the season. That hit made a loser of Hepner as he fell to 0-1 on the season. Arkansas' Jason Beeks, who tossed the final 2.2 innings, picked up the win to improve to 2-0.
Due to inclement weather predicted for Sunday, San Diego State and Arkansas will wrap up their series with a doubleheader on Saturday (March 9). The first game of the twin bill will get underway at 11:35 a.m. (CT) with game two scheduled to start 30 minutes after the conclusion of the opener.