FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — It wasn’t easy, but it was a win.
The Arkansas baseball team pounded out 17 hits in a 7-6, series-evening win over South Carolina on Saturday.
Down 1-0 in the bottom of the third, Jacob Morris bunted with runners on the corners to score Matt Vinson, who had led off with a double. Two batters later, Brian Anderson reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, scoring John Clay Reeves.
After the Gamecocks tied it in the fourth, the Razorbacks answered again. Vinson’s second double of the day scored Bo Bigham to give the Hogs a 3-2 lead.
South Carolina put together a rally in the fifth to take a 4-3 lead, but Arkansas answered with a run in the bottom half, with Tim Carver scoring on an infield single by Matt Reynolds.
The Hogs took a lead they would not give up in the sixth. Derrick Bleeker led off with a single. After a sacrifice bunt and a base hit put runners on the corners, Morris singled to left, scoring Bleeker. Carver then followed with another single, scoring Jake Wise.
With the score 6-5 in the eighth, Arkansas got a big insurance run when Reynolds singled to center to score Carver from third.
South Carolina got one run in the ninth, but Barrett Astin shut the door after that for his ninth save of the year.
Matt Reynolds had three hits and two driven in, and Morris added two hits and two RBI. Vinson was 2-for-3 with a run driven in.
Ty Wright got the win for 1.2 scoreless innings of relief. Arkansas starter Randall Fant did not factor in the decision after going 2.1 innings and allowing a run.
The Hogs did lose John Clay Reeves in the sixth, when, while attempting to catch a pitchout, he was struck on the left arm by the batter swinging. He suffered a bruise and is considered day-to-day.
The win moves Arkansas to 34-14 overall, 12-11 in SEC play. They go for the series win on Sunday. Junior right-hander D.J. Baxendale (6-2, 3.47) will start for the Razorbacks. South Carolina has not named a starter.
First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.
