|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 28, 1999 at Fayetteville, Arkansas #1 Arkansas 10, #4 Delaware 6
FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. – Shortsop Joe Jester keyed a five-run fifth inning with a two-out bases clearing double as the top seed and host University of Arkansas rallied for a 10-6 win over the University of Delaware in the first round of the NCAA Baseball Regionals Friday night at Baum Stadium. The No. 4 seed Blue Hens, making their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance, led 5-2 thanks to a five run second inning before the Razorbacks, ranked No. 10 nationally, rallied with two runs in the second, two in the fourth, and five in the fifth to chase starter Bryan Porcelli. Delaware (35-24) will take on No. 2 seed Clemson, a 23-5 first round loser to No. 3 seed Southwest Missouri State, in the loser’s bracket Saturday at 12 noon EST. Arkansas (42-21) will take on the Southwest Missouri State in the winner’s bracket game at 4:30 p.m. The Blue Hens built a 5-0 lead with a five-run second as freshman outfielder Vince Vukovich hit a two-run double, shortstop Peter Maestrales hit a sacrifice fly, and Matt Voltz and Ken Giles each had RBI ground outs. But Arkansas rallied with two run in the fourth and added five in the fifth to take control. Jester, who went 2 for 6 with four RBI, cleared the bases with a double to center field with two outs. That hit chased Porcelli, who had a 10-game win streak snapped to fall to 10-3. He pitched four and a third innings and allowed nine hits and seven earned runs. Vic Sage went the rest of the way for the Hens. Delaware cut the lead to 9-6 in the sixth inning as junior All-American Kevin Mench clouted his team-leading 19th home run to dead center field. But that was the end of the Hen offense for the day. Arkansas added one run in the eighth to make a winner of David Walling, who went the distance and improved to 10-2. Razorback Brad Hagedorn went 1 for 3 with two RBI to added to the Arkansas offense. “We jumped out to the lead but Arkansas kept its composure and kept coming at us,” said Mench, who went 1 for 3 and scored two runs. “They swung the bat well.” “This was a tough atmosphere (6,000 fans) for our kids but they handled the situation very well,” said Delaware head coach Bob Hannah. “Arkansas is a good offensive club, they have good speed and hit the ball well. That put a lot of pressure on us. We’ll have to bounce back quickly because Clemson (Saturday’s opponent) is a tough team witha great tradition.”
- DDD - |
