Spanberger’s home run lifts Hogs over Eagles

FAYETTEVILLE — Chad Spanberger’s first Arkansas home run of any kind since last week’s SEC Tournament extended the Razorbacks’ Fayetteville Regional life Sunday night at Baum Stadium.

Spanberger’s estimated 450foot moon shot broke a 3-3 tie in the seventh inning, forging the Razorbacks’ 4-3 loser’s bracket final victory over the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles witnessed by 6,349 after an afternoon deluge rain delayed the start by two hours.

Spanberger’s 20th home run, five hit during the SEC Tournament, made middle reliever Josh Alberius the victor while closer Jake Reindl notched the save, consecutively retiring ORU’s last seven batters.

Missouri State, 2-0 in the tournament beating Oklahoma State,

6-5, Friday afternoon and Arkansas, 5-4, late Saturday night, and Arkansas were scheduled at 9:10 p.m Sunday to play the championship.

An Arkansas victory Sunday night forces a 6 p.m. winner-takeall championship game tonight advancing the winner to the best two out of three Super Regional against the winner of the Fort Worth Regional to be among the Elite Eight playing for the national championship at the College World Series in Omaha.

With one out and nobody on in the seventh, ORU coach Ryan Folmar replaced right-handed reliever Spencer Henson with Trevor McCutchin, his lefty throwing reliever-DH.

McCutchin’s task was turning Arkansas switch-hitter Eric Cole, a two-run double batting left-handed off right-handed starter Justin McGregor and then pitch to left-handed hitting Spanberger.

Cole flied to right. Spanberger and McCutchin dueled to a full count before Spanberger went deep.

Held to two hits the first four innings by ORU starter Justin McGregor, the Razorbacks routed the right-hander in the fifth.

Carson Shaddy singled leading off but was thrown out stealing. That cost a Razorbacks run from what followed. Jared Gates singled. Grant Koch singled. Jake Arledge doubled to left scoring Gates. Eric Cole, just 1 for 12 in his previous Regional at bats, doubled both home.

SEC Tournament runner-up Arkansas took a 45-18 record into Sunday’s late night game against Missouri State.