Knight settles in; Hogs find groove

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Sophomore Blaine Knight pitched eight innings to lead the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville to a 7-1 victory over the University of Alabama on Friday.

Knight (4-1) gave up two of his three hits allowed in the first inning. Alabama leadoff hitter Cobie Vance doubled, and Hunter Alexander hit an RBI single to left field with two outs to give the Crimson Tide their only lead of the night, 1-0. Knight also gave up one hit in the eighth.

“We switched over to going with a breaking ball early in the count and kept them off balance, and it worked out,” Knight said.

He struck out seven and threw 95 pitches. Dominic Taccolini came on in the ninth inning to close out the game.

Knight has been the Friday night starter since opening day. He has struck out seven or more on three occasions, contributing to Arkansas’ 275 strikeouts, the most in the SEC. He has struck out 48 and walked 2 in 40 innings.

“He just mixed it up really well, and he threw everything for a strike, and that is kind of what he does,” Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. “He throws a lot of strikes.”

The Razorbacks scattered 17 hits among nine different players.

Luke Bonfield hit a tworun home run over the left-center field fence in the top of the third inning — his fifth of the season — to take a 2-1 lead. He went 3 for 5 with 3 RBI and scored 2 runs.

Jared Gates recorded his first hit of the season for the Razorbacks since returning from a hand injury and scored on a passed ball in the fourth inning. He went 3 for 3. Jake Arledge went 3 of 4 with an RBI.

The Razorbacks improve to 21-5 and 6-1 in the SEC. Alabama drops to 12-14 and 1-6 in the SEC. The Crimson Tide’s Jake Walters (4-3) picked up the loss.

Today’s second game of the series is scheduled for 7 p.m. Alabama leads the alltime series 46-37.

AP/al.com/VASHA HUN Arkansas outfielders Dominic Fletcher (left) and Jake Arledge collide while chasing a fly ball during Friday’s game at Alabama. Arledge held onto the ball for the out, and the Razorbacks won 7-1.

AP/AL.com/VASHA HUNT Arkansas outfielder Jake Arledge collides with Alabama’s Chandler Avant as he throws to first base in an attempt to complete a double play Friday during the Razorbacks’ victory in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

AP/AL.com/VASHA HUNT Arkansas infielder Jared Gates (3) dives back to first base as Alabama’s Cody Henry (9) looks to pick him off Friday during the Razorbacks’ 9-1 victory over the Crimson Tide at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.