OMAHA, Neb. (Univ. of Ark.) – The fifth-seeded Arkansas Razorbacks look to continue advancing through the winner’s bracket of the 2018 College World Series today when they take on nine-seed and Big 12 foe Texas Tech at 6 p.m. in TD Ameritrade Park.
ESPN will carry the game and the winner will advance to the semifinals needing only one win to reach the CWS final.
Matchup: No. 5 Arkansas vs. No. 9 Texas Tech
TV: ESPN >> WatchESPNApp
Talent: Karl Ravech (PXP), Kyle Peterson (Analyst), Eduardo Perez (Analyst), Laura Rutledge (Reporter)
Radio: Razorback Sports Network from IMG
Probable Starters for Game Two: (ARK) LHP Kacey Murphy (8-5) vs. (TTU) RHP Davis Martin (7-5)
Arkansas opened this year’s College World Series in style with an 11-5 win over Texas with the help of an eight-run six inning. The 11 runs scored by the Hogs is the most by an Arkansas team in a world series game and Luke Bonfield hit the first home run of the College World Series in the fifth inning, his ninth of the year.
The Razorbacks are now 45-19 on the year which matches last year’s record and is the fourth season of 45 or more wins under head coach Dave Van Horn.
Starting On The Right Foot
With Sunday’s win over the Longhorns, Arkansas has won 12 College World Series games in its history and this is the fifth time in nine trips it has opened the CWS with a win. The Razorbacks have 16 tournament wins in the last five years and have won six of seven tournament games this year by a combined score of 58-19.
Tuesday’s Probable Starter – LHP Kacey Murphy
Junior left-hander Kacey Murphy will get the ball for the Razorbacks against the Red Raiders. Murphy is 8-5 on the year with a 3.12 ERA, the second-lowest among Hog starters. In his last outing, Murphy suffered a small hiccup against South Carolina in the NCAA Super Regional, giving up four earned runs over 4.1 innings, but has worked at least four innings in every outing this year and has gone six or more nine times.
Rise Up!
Senior Luke Bonfield smacked his ninth homer of the year in the fifth inning of Sunday’s game to put the Razorbacks back on top for good against the Longhorns. It was the first homer by any player in this year’s College World Series and the 95th of the year for Arkansas. Bonfield is one of five Arkansas players to hit nine or more home runs this year and Sunday was his 200th career game in a Razorback uniform.
Mr. June Strikes Again
Coming into the College World Series, first baseman Jared Gates was hitting .313 with three home runs in this year’s NCAA Tournament. He continued his strong player on Sunday with a 3-for-5 day at the plate against Texas, his first three-hit game of the year and fourth multi-hit performance in his last eight games.
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