FAYETTEVILLE — Kentucky won a pair of one-run games Saturday to sweep a doubleheader and win its best-of-three game series against Arkansas at Baum Stadium.
The No. 3 Wildcats won the first game of the doubleheader 5-4 and the second game 2-1 to record their first series win in Fayetteville since 2002.
Kentucky (32-5, 11-4 SEC) used a two-run home run by right fielder Cameron Flynn in the fourth inning to score all the runs it needed in the second game. Wildcats starter Corey Littrell pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing only one run.
The No. 11 Razorbacks had their chances, but stranded two runners in three of the final six innings, including two after putting Dominic Ficociello and Matt Reynolds on with one out in the eighth.
Arkansas (25-10, 8-7) stranded eight runners in the second game.
"We just didn't get that big hit," Reynolds said. "I know I came up with a runner on second and didn't get a hit. We had runners on base but just couldn't score them."
The Razorbacks squandered a great outing by starter DJ Baxendale in the second game. The right-hander suffered his second loss of the season despite pitching eight innings, allowing two runs on six hits and striking out seven.
"He threw real well," Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. "I hope he can keep that up. We just didn't back him up offensively at all.
"It's how fragile the game is. One hit or one mistake, one at-bat changes things. That's why I tell the guys you lose one-run games, you can't be satisfied. It's about going out and finding a way to win. Today we didn't do that."
Arkansas scored its only run in the second game on a Brian Anderson RBI single in the sixth inning.
Kentucky relievers Tim Peterson, Alex Phillips and Trevor Gott pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of Littrell. The Wildcats' bullpen recorded 8 1/3 scoreless innings in all Saturday.
Arkansas was limited to just three hits in the first game of the doubleheader.
Kentucky scored three runs in the first inning off Arkansas starting pitcher Barrett Astin. Razorbacks shortstop Tim Carver committed three errors in the frame, helping fuel the rally.
"My goal from last week was to stay out of the big inning," Astin said. "I felt like I was getting the ball down in the zone and getting groundballs. That happens sometimes and I'll just learn from that.
"I've had some tough luck the last couple of games and there have been some errors, but our defense did a great job the rest of the game and that's all I can ask for."
Arkansas responded in the bottom of the first with a two-run home run by Reynolds. The Razorbacks took a 4-3 lead in the second, scoring on an error and a balk.
It would be the last bit of offense the Razorbacks could muster, however, as relievers Chandler Shepherd and Peterson combined to limit Arkansas to one hit in the final 5 2/3 innings.
Kentucky took the lead in the top of the fourth inning on consecutive RBI doubles by Thomas McCarthy and A.J. Reed. The Wildcats, the SEC's leading offensive team, recorded 26 hits in the series.
The Razorbacks loaded the bases in the fourth inning, but Shepherd got pinch-hitter Jimmy Bosco to hit into a double play. Bosco hit a line drive at Kentucky second baseman J.T. Riddle, who forced Jacob Morris out at second base to end the inning.
Arkansas had only one base runner in the final five innings.
"It was just a disappointing day offensively pretty much from about the third inning-on of that first game," Van Horn said. "Their pitching did a great job and their bullpen came out and did what they had to get done."
Astin suffered the loss for the Razorbacks, allowing two earned runs (five total) on seven hits in 4-plus innings. Brandon Moore pitched five scoreless innings in relief for Arkansas, allowing just two hits.
Arkansas will face Stephen F. Austin in a doubleheader on Tuesday and will return to SEC play next weekend at Ole Miss.