Razorback Baseball: Diamond Hogs lose commanding lead, fall to Vandy 10-8

With an 8-2 lead going into the eighth inning the Arkansas Razorbacks were on the brink of winning their second SEC regular season championship in three years.

It seemed like the Diamond Hogs had it under control until a nightmarish eighth inning. With the 10-2 victory for Vanderbilt, they clinch a bye in the upcoming SEC Tournament.

Emerging star

Peyton Holt poured salt in the wound during the sixth inning when he launched a three-run home run. Holt would be hit by a pitch during the eighth inning and score again off a hit by SS John Bolton.

It’s not like the Razorbacks have beaten up on the sisters of the pour because there’s no such thing in the SEC. With several star players like Tavian Josenberger, Jared Wegner, Brady Tygart and Peyton Stovall missing time Dave Van Horn has been masterful at creating a lineup that continued to pop.

Senior leader

Brady Slavens went 3-4 on Friday night. He’s continued to be lethal in the six hole with the rest of the bottom of the lineup rising to the occasion as well.

Pitchers up and down performance

Tygart was touched up a smidge during the third inning after allowing two solo home runs that cut the Razorback lead to 3-2. The Hernando, (Miss.) native went 4 IP, 2 ER and 7 strikeouts.

One of the heroes from the 2022 postseason is rounding into form. Zack Morris was electric and played a key role in the regional win against Oklahoma State.

The Cabot, (Ark.) native pitched 3 innings with 1 walk and 6 strikeouts.

Eighth inning woes

Vanderbilt would make a run during the eight inning to load the bases with no outs once Gage Wood came in to close. In a freak play, Enrique Bradfield popped one up over second base but it was caught by Bolton. He and Holt collided and fell on each other which injured the short stop.

With the bases loaded again, Wood would be taken off the mound after 20 pitches in .3 innings, 3 hits, 2 ER and 1 hit batter. He would be replaced by Texarkana, (Ark.) native Kody Adcock in hopes of securing the final five outs of the night.

Adcock walked his first batter which brought a rum home in the eighth making the score 8-5 with the bases remaining full.

Adcock would allow Jack Bulger to hit a two run single pulling the Commodores within one. Dave Van Horn would then visit the mound to pull the former Ole Miss transfer off the mound.

After inserting Parker Coil as the third pitcher of the inning he would be touched up with a two-run homer by LaNeve.

Finally, the Razorback would get out of the eighth inning with back-to-back outs. Arkansas surrendered eight runs allowing Vanderbilt to take a commanding 10-8 lead.

Kendall Diggs would hit what looked like a solo home run that was stolen away by Bradfield in center with an amazing catch.

Caleb Cali would chop one to left field for a two out single to bring Slavens to the plate.

With a full count, Slavens would swing and miss on a 3-2 count for Vanderbilt to tie up the series with a 10-8 victory.