No. 10 Diamond Hogs fall to No. 2 LSU

No. 2 LSU broke a 3-3 tie with two runs in the top of the 10th inning to defeat No. 10 Arkansas, 5-3, in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Baum Stadium.

The Razorbacks drop to 25-12 overall and 9-6 in Southeastern Conference play, while LSU, which won two of three games in the series, improves to 34-3 and 13-2 in league play.

Arkansas set a new school record for highest paid attendance in a three-game weekend series as 30,718 tickets were sold for the three games against LSU. Sunday’s paid attendance of 10,180 was the eighth-highest in Baum Stadium history, while the actual attendance on Sunday of 9,248 was the 15th-highest in stadium history.

With the score tied at three, LSU put together a two-run rally in the top of the 10th to take a 5-3 lead. Ty Ross started the inning with a double to the right-center field alley and then pinch runner Jared Foster advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Chris Sciambra. Sean McMullen flew out to deep right-center field on the first pitch of his at bat, scoring Foster from third with the go-ahead run. The Tigers would add an insurance run later in the inning on a RBI single to center field by Raph Rhymes that put LSU in front 5-3.

Arkansas was able to get the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the 10th after a one-out bunt single by Brett McAfee. However, LSU closer Chris Cotton retired pinch hitters Isaac Hellbusch and Jean Ramirez to end the game and give the Tigers the win in the series finale.

Cotton (2-0) earned the win on the mound for the Tigers. The left hander gave up one hit and struck out one over two scoreless innings. Arkansas reliever Chris Oliver (2-1) was the tough-luck loser after allowing a run on one hit and striking out one in 1.2 innings.
 
Freshman Jordan Farris led the Razorbacks at the plate with a two-hit performance, including a home run, and two RBI. Tyler Spoon had a hit and a RBI in the loss. Brian Anderson, Dominic Ficociello, McAfee and Joe Serrano also had one hit.
 
Alex Bregman homered and had a game-high three hits with two RBI to lead LSU at the plate. Mark Laird, McMullen and Rhymes each had a hit and a RBI.
 
Arkansas is back in action on Tuesday as it opens a two-game series at Nebraska. First pitch on Tuesday is set for 6:35 p.m. and the game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.