March 9, 2013
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - San Diego State dropped both ends of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon as it fell to No. 16 Arkansas by scores of 8-2 and 4-1. With the four-game series sweep the Razorbacks improved to 11-5 on the season while the Aztecs saw their record fall to 7-9.
In the opener, Arkansas got seven innings of no-hit ball from starting pitcher Trey Killian en route to the victory. He retired the first 16 batters he faced before a walk to Evan Potter in the sixth gave SDSU its first base runner of the contest. Killian was pulled to begin the top of the eighth inning in favor of Colby Suggs, who surrendered a one-out single to Mitch Bluman to end the no-hit bid.
The Razorbacks, meanwhile, struck for two runs in the second and another in the fifth off SDSU starter Ryan Doran (2-2), who went five innings allowing the three runs on eight hits with a walks and two strikeouts.
Arkansas then put the game out of reach with five runs in its half of the sixth off Aztec relievers Travis Pitcher and Tyler Sapp as it extended its lead to 8-0.
San Diego State scored a pair of consolation runs in the final frame. Evan Potter and Greg Allen walked to lead off the inning before Tim Zier's single brought home Potter. Allen would score on a ground out by Justin Gheorghe, but that was all the Aztecs would get as Arkansas reliever Tyler Wright recorded the final two outs to secure the victory.
Game two of the twin bill was a pitchers' duel over the first six innings and Aztec starter Ethan Miller and Razorback hurler Randall Fant allowed no runs over that span. Both pitchers left the contest after six frames and it would be the second hurler for each squad that would be involved in the decision.
UA's Michael Gunn (1-0) tossed a perfect top of the seventh in a one-inning appearance that would earn him his first win of the year.
San Diego State freshman closer Bubba Derby (0-1) was called on for the Aztec in the bottom of the inning, but he was not as effective and would allow four runs on four hits and a walk as he suffered the first loss of his Aztec career.
The Aztecs again waited until the ninth to put a run on the board. Singles by John Spirk and Jake Romanski set the stage for Danny Sheehan's one-out RBI single to center to provide a spark of hope for the visitors. But Razorback reliever Barrett Astin induced Tyler France to hit into a double play to end the contest.
San Diego State's road slate continues on Tuesday, March 12, with a trip north to face 21st-ranked UC Irvine at 6:30 p.m. at Anteater Ballpark.