Home Runs Halt Vanderbilt's Win Streak as No. 25 Arkansas Cruises to 17-7 Win

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Five Arkansas home runs, including four three-run blasts carried the Razorbacks to an easy 17-7 win over Vanderbilt Saturday, April 12, at Baum Stadium. Arkansas improves to 26-7 overall and 8-6 in the Southeastern Conference. The loss snaps Vanderbilt's four-game SEC winning streak, lowering its record to 17-16 overall and 6-8 in league play.

Ryan Fox went 3-for-4 with five RBI and four runs scored. He led the long ball attack for Arkansas, connecting on a three-run shot in the first inning and a two-run homer in the second frame. It marked his 12th and 13th homers of the season.

With Vanderbilt leading 1-0 after a half inning, Arkansas posted eight runs on Commodore starter Robert Ransom (3-1) in the bottom of the first. The Razorbacks sent 12 batters to the plate with eight of the first nine batters reaching base. Andrew Wishy put the Razorbacks ahead 3-1 when he homered over the right center field wall, scoring Nick Pitts and Kirk McConnell. It marked sixth long ball of the year and second of the series. Four batters later, Fox knocked the first of two long balls on the day, a three-run shot to left field, plating Haas Pratt and Brady Toops. Pitts pushed the lead to 7-1 when he singled in Scott Bridges. McConnell bunted in Scott Hode from third base to complete the scoring in the inning.

Fox's second blast of the day, a two-run blast to left field extended the Arkansas lead to 10-2 in the bottom of the second.

Pratt chased Ransom from the game with two outs in the third when he hit the game's third three-run homer over the wall in left field. It was Pratt's ninth home run of the year.

Arkansas capped off its scoring in the seventh when Bridges sent a Blake Owen pitch over the wall in left center field for three more runs. It was Bridges second long ball of the year.

Clint Brannon (2-1) picked up the win for Arkansas, allowing nine hits, five runs (three earned), a walk and two strikeouts.

Vanderbilt was never able to rally but posted 10 or more hits in three consecutive games for the first time this season. Ryan Klosterman led the way, going 3-for-5 with a run scored. John Kaye and Jonathan Douillard had two hits apiece.

Warner Jones' RBI single in the first to put Vanderbilt ahead 1-0.
Zach Simpson grounded out to shortstop in the second inning, plating Tony Mansolino to pull Vanderbilt within an 8-2 deficit.

Vanderbilt scored three times in the fifth on a RBI double by Cesar Nicolas, a RBI single by Ryan Godfrey and a wild pitch from Brannon that brought home Nicolas. That made the score 14-5.

Jonathan Douillard singled in a run in the seventh and Matt McGraner singled in a run in the ninth.

The rubber match of the three-game series is Sunday at 1 p.m.