FAYETTEVILLE — Strong pitching lifted the No. 10 Arkansas Razorbacks over the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 4-2 Friday night at Baum-Walker Stadium.
The Diamond Hogs get the first win of the three-game series, and the pitching staff retiring 10 of the last 12 Bulldogs was a key component.
“I thought our pitching staff did a tremendous job throwing strikes,” said Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn. “I think we walked one. Isaiah (Campbell) struck out 10 and walked zero. He maybe didn’t have as good a stuff as last week which I really didn’t expect him to because he was awfully good last week.”
The redshirt junior struck out 10 batters over six innings and allowed just two runs. Campbell did not walk a batter during his 98 pitches. It is the second-straight game with 10 or more strikeouts, making him the first Arkansas
“It was a good start, I just lost a little bit of command in that fourth inning, and left a couple of pitches over the middle of the plate and they got good swings on them, found some holes,” said Campbell. “Overall it was a good start, I was spotting my fastball really well today inside and outside. I just competed in the strike zone and really just let my defense do the work.”
Kevin Kopps and Matt Cronin finished the final three innings, giving up one walk and fanning four. Cronin picked up his fourth save of the season while Kopps has allowed on run in 6.2 innings over four appearances in 2019.
Said Van Horn: “Then you go with Kevin Kopps and he goes and gives us two shutdown innings. We take the lead and then Cronin finished it off. I thought he threw the ball pretty well.”
The Razorbacks play game two with Louisiana Tech Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at Baum-Walker Stadium. Catch the action live on Fox Sports Radio 1400 AM with pregame at 12:30 p.m.