Gainesville, FLA–The Razorbacks bats came alive in a four-run fifth inning allowing Arkansas to even its SEC baseball series with Florida after a 5-1 win.
Starting pitcher Randall Fant went three innings giving up an unearned run on six hits with four strikeouts. Brandon Moore (4-1) was outstanding in relief tossing five shutout innings while giving up just three hits to earn the win. Barrett Astin closed it out for the Hogs with a scoreless ninth.
With the win Arkansas pulled back to .500 in SEC play at 10-10, tied with Ole Miss for second in the West. The Hogs earned their 30th win of the season against 13 losses.
Florida starter Brian Johnson (5-3) suffered the loss. Johnson gave up five runs on eight hits with six strikeouts in 4.1 innings.
The Razorback offense pounded out 10 hits in the win. Sophomore Dominic Ficociello had a team-high two hits with a RBI and a run scored in the victory.
Arkansas took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third on an RBI single by Ficociello scoring Joe Serrano. Florida tied the game in the bottom of the third on an unearned run.
The Razorbacks moved back in front for good in the fourth. Tim Carver began the inning with a single and then moved to second after a ground out to first by Jacob Mahan. A base hit to left by Ficociello advanced Carver to third and after a fielding error by the Florida left fielder, Carver was able to cross home plate to put Arkansas in front. Ficociello then stole second and came in to score on a base hit to left-center field by Matt Reynolds. Bo Bigham reached on a bunt single down the third base line. Reynolds, who was running on the play, was able to advance all the way to third to put runners at the corners with one out. Jimmy Bosco extended the scoring with a pinch hit infield single to second to score Reynolds and move Bigham to second. After Jacob Morris fouled out to third for the second out of the inning, Michael Gunn came through with a clutch pinch hit single into center field to score Bigham and put Arkansas in front 5-1.
Arkansas and Florida play the rubber game of the three-game series tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. Junior right hander DJ Baxendale (6-2, 3.78) will pitch for the Razorbacks, while the Gators will counter with sophomore righty Jonathon Crawford (4-1, 3.86).
