Wood makes history, Hogs locked out Murray State to continue
Wood makes history, Hogs locked out Murray State to continue World Series run The No.
3-seed Arkansas Razorbacks (49-14) will live to see another day in the College World Series after locking out Murray State (44-17) 3-0 in Monday’s removal game at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.
Junior righty Gage Wood published the best getaway of anybody to wear a Razorback uniform, setting out a school-record 19 batters in a complete, no-hit effort.
It was just the third no-hitter in Men’s College World Series history, first since 1960, and Wood’s only acne was a struck by pitch that separated his perfect game bid in the bottom of the 8th inning.
After logging only 4 hits in Saturday’s loss to LSU, the Hogs pounded out 10 versus the Racers, headlined by 9-hole player Justin Thomas Jr.’s best 4-for-4 afternoon.
Arkansas will face the loser of UCLA and LSU on Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.
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WRAP-UP
First Inning:
Elder righty Isaac Silva started the game by starting out Razorback leadoff Charles Davalan. SEC Player of the Year Wehiwa Aloy reached initially after Murray shortstop Conner Cunningham slipped while scooping up a grounder. Logan Maxwell flied out to left field before Ryder Helfrick decreased swinging.
Arkansas starter Gage Wood induced a 1-2-3 inning with a flyout to left and set out successive batters swinging while tossing simply 13 pitches.
2nd Inning:
Silva responds with a 1-2-3 frame of his own while throwing just six pitches. He has 3 punchouts versus seven batters faced.Wood started the
inning by notching his 3rd successive strikeout on a fastball right down the middle and sat down the side in order for the second straight inning. He is at 24 pitches through two. Third Inning: Reese Robinett roped a leadoff double to ideal
center and Justin Thomas Jr. reached first to put runners on the corners after the ball was hit right back at Silva’s legs. Davalan hit a liner into left field to score Robinett for the 1-0 lead and Thomas made it over to third to keep runners on the corners with not outs. Davalan swiped second to position two runners in scoring position and Connor Cunningham gloved a laser by Wehiwa to brief for the first out. Logan Maxwell then turned up to right and Silva got away with no more damage as he got Helfrick swinging on a 2-2 count.Wood started out the side in order for and he stays ideal throughout three on just 38 pitches. 4th Inning: Silva completes his second 1-2-3 inning with two flyouts and a high popout to center by Brent Iredale. Continuing to handle the fastball, Wood struck out
his sixth straight Murray
batter and he is up to 9 total. Fifth Inning: Robinett battled on an eight-pitch at-bat, but set out looking and a one-hopper by Thomas passes by the third baseman for a single, and then Thomas took second. Davalan walked to put 2 on and
the Racer infield gathers for a mound visit. It appeared Murray was going to turn 2 to end the frame, however Weihwa vanquished the toss to first. Silva left it by causing a Maxwell groundout to 2nd. Wood punched out his seventh straight batter, and 10th of the afternoon, to become simply the second pitcher in the College World Series since 1999 to fan seven consecutive. He induced a groundout, then notched his
11th strikeout to finish his fifth ideal frame.Sixth Inning: Helfrick led off with a much-needed single and after that rapidly entered scoring position with a swipe of 2nd base. Kuhio Aloy drew a one-out walk after Camera Kozeal turned up to right, but Silva got Robinett to go on a full count to leave two Hogs stranded.
Wood tape-records the
very first out on a comebacker and followed that with his 12th strikeout, once again a fastball elevated in the zone. He recovered from a 3-0 drawback against fellow Batesville High alumnus Conner Cunningham, and after that struck him out after working the count full.Seventh Inning
: Right-handed reducer Graham Kelham took over for Silva on the mound and 9-hole batter Thomas knocked his 3rd hit of the day. The lineup reversed over and Davalan singled up the middle to put runners on the corners without any outs. Wehiwa knocked a double down the left field line to score Thomas and provide the Hogs
a 2-0 benefit. With 2 runners in scoring position, Logan Maxwell roped one into best and the ball fell out of the ideal fielder’s glove, scoring Davalan for the 3-0 Arkansas lead with no one out. The Hogs left 2 aboard in scoring position after Helfrick grounded out, Kozeal started out, then Kuhio flied out. Fresh out of stretch time, Wood’s 14th strikeout set his career high. Wood induced successive groundouts and he’s at 90 pitches through seven.Eighth Inning: Thomas continued his substantial day with his 4th hit on a two-out single, but the top half of the inning concluded when he was tagged out on an effort to steal 2nd. Wood’s best game quote ended with a struck by pitch versus the leadoff batter, however retired the remainder of the side that included his 15th and 16th strikeouts of the day. Ninth Inning: Kelham caused his first 1-2-3 frame with a groundout sandwiched in between 2 punchouts. Wood was at first charged with his second hit
batter in as lots of innings and after Arkansas challenged, the batter was called out as it was chosen that he leaned into the pitch. Wood is at 17 strikeouts. Wood struck out the next two batters to complete with a school-record 19 for a no-hit efficiency and keep the Hogs ‘College World Series run going.Box Rating ** JOIN THE DISCUSSION WITH ARKANSAS FANS ON THE TROUGH, HAWGBEAT’S PREMIUM MESSAGE BOARD **