OMAHA, Neb. — The Arkansas Razorbacks dropped a 1-0 heartbreaker to Florida State on Saturday, June 15, in its first game of the 2019 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha.
After eight scoreless innings, Florida State edged out a run in the top of the ninth to take a 1-0 lead. FSU put two men on to open the frame via a hit-by-pitch and fielder’s choice with nobody out. Matt Cronin took over on the mound for Cody Scroggins, who relieved starter Isaiah Campbell in the eighth, and the Seminoles moved the duo into scoring position with a successful sacrifice bunt from Matheu Nelson. With one away, a pinch-hitting Cooper Swanson lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to push Florida State ahead 1-0.
Isaiah Campbell put on another masterful performance in his third College World Series game of his career on Saturday night. He totaled 7.0 innings of shutout ball, allowing five hits and two walks, while striking out 10. The double-digit punch out total broke his own school record for strikeouts in a CWS game, set last year against Florida (eight) on June 22.
It was the first loss to Florida State by the Razorbacks, as the two squads have met six in two school’s histories, all coming during postseason play.
The Razorbacks will take on Texas Tech on Monday, June 17, at 1 p.m. on ESPN from TD Ameritrade Park in an elimination game.
>> Saturday marked the sixth time Arkansas and Florida State have squared off on the diamond, with all six coming during the postseason. The contest was the first matchup in the College World Series. The Razorbacks are 5-1 against the Seminoles after Saturday’s decision.
>> Arkansas moved to 5-2 in NCAA Tournament action this season. The Razorbacks swept the Fayetteville Regional, 3-0, and went 2-1 in the Fayetteville Super Regional. Overall in postseason play, Arkansas is 6-4 this season.
>> Arkansas is 15-19 in the College World Series and 5-5 in CWS openers.
>> The Hogs are 88-68 (.564) all-time in the NCAA Tournament, including 24 tournament wins in the last six years.
>> Isaiah Campbell reached five strikeouts with his first out in the third inning. It was the 14th time this season he’s recorded five or more punch outs in a game. Campbell’s final line was 7.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 10 K.
>> Campbell’s 10 K’s broke his own school record for strikeouts in a College World Series game, set against Florida on June 22, 2018 (5.1 IP). He ranks fifth in the Arkansas record books in single-season strikeouts with 125 and is eighth all-time in career totals with 224.
>> With a single in the third inning, Trevor Ezell extended his hitting streak to eight games, including every game of the 2019 NCAA Tournament. This postseason, he is batting 16-of-32 (.500) with eight RBIs and eight runs scored.
>> Dominic Fletcher’s two-out single in the sixth inning pushed his hitting streak to five games. He is 8-of-20 at the plate during the stretch.
>> Christian Franklin posted his 16th multi-hit game of the season after recording a single and a double against the Seminoles. He ranks seventh on the team in multi-hit performances this season.
>> Cody Sroggins posted a clean eighth inning against Florida State on Saturday. Entering the ninth, he racked up 9.2 scoreless frames on the mound, dating back to Arkansas’ SEC Tournament opener vs. Ole Miss on May 22.