FAYETTEVILLE — There will be a deciding game tonight in the NCAA Fayetteville Regional.
Washington State made sure of it by defeating Arkansas 10-7 before 8,236 fans Sunday night at Baum Stadium. Derek Jones went 4 for 5 with 2 RBI for the Cougars, who jumped out to a 7-1 lead after five innings and held on from there.
Arkansas (42-19) and Washington State (37-21) will play again at 7:05 tonight with the winner advancing to the super regional against Arizona State.
“I have to credit my guys.They would not give in,” said Washington State Coach Donnie Marbut, whose team won two games Sunday. “It was18 innings of grinding baseball. I’m blessed to be a part of this team.”
Washington State earned another shot at the Razorbacks on Sunday by defeating Kansas State 9-6 in an elimination game earlier in the day. It was the 20th comeback victory of the season for the Cougars, who trailed 6-1 after four innings against the Wildcats.
Washington State didn’t need a comeback against Arkansas after scoring five in the fifth inning to lead 7-1. But a two-out double by Monk Kreder and three home runs in two innings by the Razorbacks brought many in the stands at Baum Stadium to their feet.
Kreder followed home runs by James McCann and Collin Kuhn with his own home run in the seventh to pull Arkansas within 7-6, but Washington State quieted the crowd again with three more runs in the eighth, helped by two Razorback errors.
“We let a couple of things get away from us defensively and they took advantage,” Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. “We did a great job of fighting back, but any time you give up five runs in one inning and find yourself down like we were, it can snowball on you.”
The victory ended Washington State’s five-game losing streak against Arkansas, which beat the Cougars four times last year while advancing to the College World Series.
Chad Arnold (4-1) pitched four innings in relief for Washington State. Mike Bolsinger (6-5) took the loss for Arkansas.
Bo Bigham went 3 for 5 and Kreder had 2 hits with 3 RBI to lead the Razorbacks.
Center fielder Brett Eibner did not play for Arkansas after he came up limping while running the bases in Saturday’s 6-4 victory over the Cougars. Eibner, who has a slight hamstring pull, will likely return to the starting lineup for tonight’s game.
“I think Eibner will be ready to play,” Van Horn said. “It’s door-die, and his leg was starting to feel better the longer we were out there.”
James Wise started both games for Washington State on Sunday and showed some tenacity against Arkansas after being roughed up by Kansas State. Wise allowed 6 runs and 7 hits in 2 2 /3 innings against the Wildcats but was much better in his second attempt, holding the Razorbacks to 2 hits and 1 run in 3 innings.
He left in the fourth inning after throwing 129 pitches on the day.
Connor Lambert pitched two innings while making his third appearance of the tournament, and Arnold finished strong by holding Arkansas to 4 runs and 3 hits in 4 innings.
But Washington State’s victory started with Wise, who wanted a second chance against Arkansas.
“He wants [to win] the ballgame, too,” Marbut said. “If that can’t inspire your team, you can’t be inspired. As a coaching staff, you’re just proud beyond belief of him.
“Even if we would’ve lost, I can be proud of these guys just by the effort.”
Today’s game
ARKANSAS VS. WASH. STATE WHEN 7:05 tonight WHERE Baum Stadium, Fayetteville TICKETS Single game tickets available for $15 each. Order by visiting the UA ticket office or by calling (479) 575-5151 or 800-982-4647.
RADIO RSP statewide radio network. Check local listings.
INTERNET arkansasrazorbacks.com (go to RazorVision link).
STARTING PITCHERS Arkansas: Jeremey Heatley (5-0, 4.15 ERA). Washington State: TBA
Sports, Pages 13 on 06/07/2010