Hogs trounce Wildcats

Arkansas takes doubleheader, completes series sweep against Kentucky.

NO. 10 ARKANSAS 14-16, NO. 4 KENTUCKY 2-9

FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas baseball team saved perhaps its most dominant performance of the season for its series-clinching victory over the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday.

The No. 10 Razorbacks hammered the No. 4 Wildcats 14-2 in the first game of a doubleheader at Baum Stadium and finished the sweep later.

Every Arkansas starter had at least one hit in the opener. The Razorbacks outhit the Wildcats 19-5 and had five home runs — one apiece by Jax Biggers, Eric Cole, Luke Bonfield, Heston Kjerstad and pinch-hitter Zack Plunkett.

Cole and Bonfield each hit solo home runs in the first inning to give Arkansas a 2-0 lead. The Razorbacks scored 11 runs against Kentucky starter Justin

Lewis, who took his second loss and saw his ERA jump from 4.07 to 6.91.

Arkansas (16-4, 3-0 SEC) chased Lewis in the fifth after Carson Shaddy singled, and Biggers followed with a home run into the right-field bullpen. Biggers led the Razorbacks with 4 RBI.

The offensive showcase was complemented by sophomore pitcher Isaiah Campbell’s best outing as a Razorback. Campbell (2-2) allowed 1 run on 3 hits and struck out a career-high 8 in 8 innings to earn his second victory.

It was a strong bounce back from consecutive disappointing outings for Campbell, who had Game 2 losses to Southern Cal and Kent State. Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn didn’t decide on Campbell as the second game starter this weekend until after Friday’s game.

“It was more motivation on my own part,” Campbell said. “I haven’t thrown well. I didn’t have a great outing against Kent State and I wanted to come out there first weekend of SEC and prove what I can do. That’s what I did.

“I had four pitches working for me — my change-up, my curve ball and my cutter — but we went predominantly fastball and they just couldn’t hit it.”

Campbell didn’t allow a Kentucky hit until Kole Cottam’s solo home run to center field with one out in the fifth inning. The Wildcats tacked on another run with two outs in the ninth against Arkansas reliever Zebulon Vermillion.

Campbell’s career-long eight innings included 108 pitches. He has lost 22 pounds since the fall, which he said has helped him with his endurance and velocity. His fastball was clocked at 94 mph.

“My [velocity] was there the whole game and I never felt tired,” Campbell said. “I just felt like I was in the first inning [late in the game] and that was a really good thing to see.”

The Razorbacks outscored Kentucky 23-6 through the first two games. The Wildcats (14-6, 0-3) entered the series with the SEC lead in runs scored, batting average and home runs.

Arkansas defeated Kentucky 16-9 in the nightcap Saturday. The Razorbacks scored seven runs in the bottom of the first inning to get things rolling.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/ANDY SHUPE Arkansas left fielder Heston Kjerstad (18) is congratulated at the plate by Dominic Fletcher (24) and Jordan McFarland after hitting a three-run home run Saturday during the third inning of a first-game victory at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/ANDY SHUPE Arkansas starter Kole Ramage delivers Saturday during the first inning of the second game against Kentucky at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville. The Hogs won 16-9 to complete the sweep.