Razorbacks win opener

Texas drops game to Oregon State, 5-4

STILLWATER, Okla.— Andrew Benintendi doubled down the right-field line in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Arkansas the lead and the Razorbacks went on to beat Oral Roberts 8-6 on Friday in the their opening NCAA regional game.

Benintendi, named the player of the year by Collegiate Baseball on Thursday, put the Razorbacks ahead 4-3. Then, with Oral Roberts threatening to rally in the top of the eighth, All-SEC reliever Zach Jackson came on and worked out of a jam with a pair of strikeouts.

The Golden Eagles’ Anthony Sequeira hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning off Arkansas’ Lance Phillips, but by then the Razorbacks had padded their lead to 8-3. Josh Alberius replaced Phillips and retired Audie Afenir on a game-ending fly ball to shallow right.

On Saturday, Arkansas (3622) will face the Oklahoma State-St. John’s. Oral Roberts

(41-15) will play the loser.

NOBACH’S RBI DOUBLE IN 8TH LIFTS OREGON ST. PAST TEXAS

DALLAS—Kyle Nobach hit a tiebreaking double in the eighth inning, and Oregon State beat Texas 5-4 in the first round of the Dallas Regional on Friday.

Nobach also singled home a run in the fourth inning to give the Beavers (39-17-1) a 2-1 lead.

Texas (30-26) then trailed until Brooks Marlow hit a tworun home run in the eighth against starter Andrew Moore to pull the Longhorns into a 4-4 tie.

Center fielder Zane Gurwitz took a home run away from the Beavers’ Caleb Hamilton in the bottom of the seventh and started the tying rally with a two-out single.

OSU’s Joe Gillette drew a leadoff walk in the eighth off losing pitcher Kirby Bellow (3-2). Billy King sacrificed to set up the winning run.

Mitch Hickey earned his 11th save and started a double play to end the game. Scotland Church (1-0) got the win.

The game was delayed for 1:05 while a helicopter helped to dry the rain-soaked field at Dallas Baptist.