HOW IT HAPPENED: TCU's Tre Richardson Blasts Hogs
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — So much for having better weather Sunday. Or better pitching after Saturday's delay that forced Arkansas' game with TCU to Sunday as Tre Richardson blasted three homers, including two grand slams in 20-5 Horned Frogs' win.
The Razorbacks simply started struggling in the first inning and it never improved as TCU just kept pouring it on, showing that they probably should have been hosting an NCAA Regional because they were one of the hottest teams in the country at the end of the season.
There probably wouldn't be a whole lot of debate from the Hogs about that right now. The Hogs will play Santa Clara in the second game this evening after a couple of lightning delays Saturday (but no rain) delayed the end until after 6 p.m. and they started against the Broncos at 8:06 p.m
Hogs-TCU In-Game Updates
There was be no television and the only way to watch was on the ESPN+ or SECN+ live streams.
You can listen online at HitThatLine.com on the radio to ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs or 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
First Inning
Top: Smith gets off to about as bad of a start as it gets, loading the bases on a walk, a single and a pitch grazing a shoestring on a Horned Frogs player, then giving up a grand slam to left field to Tre Richardson and a 4-0 lead. The homer came on the first pitch after pitching coach Matt Hobbs came to the mound to try and settle Smith down early. He walked the next batter and gave up a single, then got the second out on a strikeout. The ninth batter delivered a line-drive single to right field, bringing in a couple of more runs and digging a 6-0 hole. He finally got out of the inning when catcher Parker Rowland threw the runner out trying to take second base.
Bottom: Tavian Josenberger leads off with a homer for the Hogs. Kendall Diggs and Brady Slavens struck out before Caleb Sali's grounder to short ended the inning. TCU 6, Hogs 1
Second Inning
Top: Smith started the second, gave up an immediate single and Dave Van Horn pulled him for Zack Morris, but he came in and gave up an RBI single, scoring another run, then a walk that loaded the bases, which set up Richardson, who hit his second grand slam of the day in the second inning, giving TCU an 11-1 lead. The Hogs finally end it with a couple of fly outs.
Bottom: Hogs go quickly and quietly with nobody getting on base. TCU 11, Hogs 1
Third Inning
Top: Austin Ledbetter comes to the mound and not a whole lot changes. The Horned Frogs get a single, then a hit batter followed by a three-RBI homer from Brayden Taylor for a 14-1 lead. Ledbetter strikes out the last two batters, but not before the Horned Frogs take a 14-1 lead and a lightning strike delays the game.
Bottom: Hogs get a single by Parker Rowland to start, then straight outs to go quietly when the game finally resumed at 4:05 p.m. (CDT). TCU 14, Hogs 1
Fourth Inning
Top: Ledbetter settles things down and retires the Horned Frogs in order, not giving up any hits. It's the first time in the game that's happened.
Bottom: The Hogs get a one-out single from Cali, but nothing else in another quick inning. TCU 14, Hogs 1
Fifth Inning
Top: TCU gets a one-out double from the top of the order, but nothing after that as Ledbetter is the first Hogs' pitcher to find some rhythm.
Bottom: Harold Coll strikes out and Hudson Polk, who replaced him probably looking at what may be a long night, delivers a single. Josenberger delivers his second homer of the game, continuing to emerge as one of the most consistent hitters in the postseason and it knocks a dent in the Horned Frogs' big lead. TCU 14, Hogs 3
Sixth Inning
Top: That little burst of energy didn't last long or knock a big dent because TCU got part of back pretty quickly. Ledbetter gives up a single and Richardson hits his third homer of the game to center field for a 16-3 lead. He managed to get the rest of the Frogs out in order.
Bottom: After a quick couple of outs, Jace Bohrofen delivers a homer to right-center field, but it's just a solo shot and the only damage done. TCU 16, Hogs 4
Seventh Inning
Top: TCU gets a one-out double followed by an RBI single for a 17-4 lead and keeps piling it on the Hogs but Ledbetter, who may be near end of his stretch after going five innings, at least put out most of the fire and now it's just smaller chunks.
Bottom: The Hogs keep getting homers with Coll leading off with a solo homer, but it's way too little too late. TCU 17, Hogs 5
Eighth Inning
Top: TCU manages to load the bases, but Ledbetter finished his sixth inning of work with a strikeout to get the Hogs back to the plate.
Bottom: The Hogs get a single from Ben McLaughlin in the eighth. TCU 17, Hogs 5
Ninth Inning
Top: As if they needed it, TCU added three runs to close out.
Bottom: The Hogs went quietly to end the game, start getting ready for second straight game. TCU 20, Hogs 5
HOGS FEED:
ONLY ONE LITTLE NAGGING THING COULD KEEP DELAY TO SUNDAY FROM BEING GOOD THING FOR RAZORBACKS
IT TOOK ABOUT FIVE HOURS AND A LOT OF WAITING, SPECULATING FOR HOGS' GAME WITH TCU TO BE POSTPONED
RAZORBACK BATS OBVIOUS, BUT MCENTIRE REASON ARKANSAS WON GAME 1 OF REGIONAL
LIVE BLOG: HOW RAZORBACKS BEAT SANTA CLARA IN FIRST GAME OF FAYETTEVILLE REGIONAL FRIDAY
SEC KICKS CAN DOWN THE ROAD FOR 2024 SCHEDULE FORMAT
DAVE VAN HORN HOPING FRESHMAN HAS PROBLEMS OF LAST THREE OUTINGS SOLVED FOR REGIONAL
SEC, ESPN LOSE IF LEAGUE GOES WITH NINE-GAME CONFERENCE SCHEDULE IN FOOTBALL
IF CHOICE WAS BETWEEN INVESTING IN HOLLAND OR DAVIS, THEN THERE WAS NO CHOICE TO BE MADE
RAZORBACKS GET THEIR LEADER BACK WITH RETURN OF DAVIS
GAME TIMES, TV NETWORKS SET FOR RAZORBACKS' FIRST THREE FOOTBALL GAMES (IF YOU CALL OPENER TV)
SHOULD THE SEC START MOVING TEAMS OUT OF CONFERENCE, RAZORBACKS WON'T BE ON THE BLOCK
VAN HORN NOT EXPECTING EASY ROAD THROUGH REGIONAL
COULD BASKETBALL BE LOOKING AT SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT IN SEC THAT FOOTBALL SCHEDULING?
RANDOM NOTES: NCAA BASEBALL REGIONALS
GETTING TO TRUTH BEHIND BAYE FALL RUMORS
NCAA REGIONAL PAIRINGS REVEALED
RAZORBACKS COACH DAVE VAN HORN DOESN'T WANT A QUICK ENDING IN NCAA REGIONAL NEXT WEEK
HOW IT HAPPENED: RAZORBACKS FALL TO TEXAS A&M IN SEC TOURNAMENT, NOW LOOKING AT NCAA REGIONAL
BEING DECISIVE IN FACE OF ANGER SHOW WHY VAN HORN IS SEC COACH OF THE YEAR
WHETHER POTENTIAL PERMANENT OPPONENTS TRUE MOST LIKELY REVEALED NEXT WEEK
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