March 13, 2010

Box Score

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Drew Smyly struck out 11 batters in seven shutout innings to lead the University of Arkansas to a 7-0 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team Saturday afternoon at Baum Stadium. The No. 14 Razorbacks (11-3) broke open a close game against the Panthers (4-7) with four unearned runs in the seventh inning to take the first two contests of the weekend series.

Junior Chad Pierce (1-2), who played at Arkansas his first two years, came through with a strong outing on the mound in his return to Fayetteville. He allowed just four hits in 6.2 innings, giving up three runs, two earned, in taking the loss.

Chad Pierce worked into the seventh and allowed just four hits.

"Pierce did a good job overall. His pitch count got up a bit early but he kept them off balance; kept us in the ballgame," UWM head coach Scott Doffek said. "It's a two-run game in the seventh and we made a move when he got close to his pitch total. If you look at it, we gave them an extra out in the seventh inning that turned into four runs."

Smyly ended the day allowing four hits and walked just two batters to go with his season-high 11 strikeouts.

"Offensively, we just didn't do anything with Smyly," Doffek said. "To his credit, he did a great job, but we were very lackluster in the box and didn't fight with two strikes."

Arkansas got what looked like an important insurance run in the seventh. Following a three-base error down the left field line, Collin Kuhn hit a long sacrifice fly to make it 3-0 at the time. The floodgates opened a bit after that, with the final tally of four unearned runs on four hits in the inning.

Down 2-0, Milwaukee threatened in the fifth inning when it put runners on second and third with one out after a single by senior Tim Patzman, a walk and a sacrifice bunt. Arkansas escaped the threat, however, getting a strikeout and a diving play on a ball up the middle to rob junior Sam Sivilotti of a potential game-tying single.

"It's a 2-0 game and we have two runners in scoring position and the kid makes an unbelievable play, bounces to his feet and gets us out," Doffek said. "You really have to take advantage of situations against a good pitcher like that. You have to tip your cap to the defense; the kid made a great play."

The Razorbacks plated a run apiece in the second and third innings, getting on the board on a pair of doubles before making it 2-0 on a leadoff home run to left field by Kuhn.

The UWM offense ended the game with just six hits, with three from Patzman and two more from junior Cole Kraft. Senior Dan Buchholz also had a single.

The Panthers and Razorbacks wrap up the three-game series Sunday. First pitch is slated for 1:05 p.m.