Arkansas shuts down, shuts out BYU

FAYETTEVILLE — Two days after giving up a season-high 10 runs, Arkansas' bullpen flexed its muscle on Tuesday.

Four Razorbacks pitchers combined to shut down and shut-out BYU in a 5-0 win at Baum Stadium. It was Arkansas' first shutout since a win over New Mexico in last year's NCAA Tempe Regional.

"The pitching was outstanding," Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. "They took it a little personal what happened Sunday, and I think they got together and had a little talk yesterday as a staff. They decided it's time to do what we feel like we can do.

"In their defense, they've been hyped a lot. Sometimes the pressure gets to you a little bit, but they went out and got it done today."

Brandon Moore pitched four innings in his second start of the season, allowing two hits and striking out three batters. Cade Lynch and Michael Gunn each pitched two scoreless innings, and Colby Suggs a perfect ninth.

Arkansas (8-1) retired 12 consecutive batters to end the game without allowing a hit.

"We know we haven't been performing up to our capabilities," said Moore, who earned his first win of the season. "The defense played great behind us. We pounded the zone and really showed what we can do.

"I can't say it really surprised us. They're a great team, but we know if we go out and pitch our best, we expect to get shutouts."

The No. 4 Razorbacks gave the sophomore right-hander plenty of run support early in the game. Tim Carver, who hit lead-off for the first time in his career, started the first inning with a walk and scored on a fielding error.

Arkansas added three more runs in the second inning when Bo Bigham drew a bases-loaded walk with no outs, and Carver and Jimmy Bosco added sacrifice flies to extend the Razorbacks' lead to 4-0.

"Having a four-run lead on a day when the wind was blowing straight in about 25 miles per hour, it's like having a seven- or eight-run lead, really," Van Horn said. "It's a lot tougher to come back.

"We wanted to get the lead and the pitchers threw a lot of strikes."

All four runs came off BYU starting pitcher Tyler Westensee, who was playing in his first collegiate game since 2008. Westensee lasted one inning, allowing three hits and walking three batters.

"Early in the game we knew we had to get going," said Carver, who recorded a RBI for the seventh consecutive game. "Knowing the wind was blowing straight in, we had to play small ball. We had multiple sac flies, got a couple of bunts down. It was good to see us progressing with that."

BYU (4-3) posed its only serious threat in the top of the third inning. Wes Guenther led-off the frame being hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a Stephen Wells single to give the Cougars runners on the corners with one out in the inning.

Moore worked out of the jam, however, striking out Austin Hall and inducing a groundout by Jaycob Brugman.

"I just tried to make quality pitches and the defense helped me out," Moore said. "Really, all you can do when you get in a jam is make pitches and do what you've got to do."

Arkansas added an insurance run on a Dominic Ficociello sacrifice fly in the fourth inning and let its pitching staff do the rest. The Razorbacks allowed only three hits on Tuesday - none after the fifth inning - and struck out nine batters.

The game lasted only 2 hours, 14 minutes - the shortest this season.

The two teams will play the last of the two-game midweek series on Wednesday at 3:05 p.m. Junior right-hander and staff ace DJ Baxendale will start for Arkansas on a limited pitch count, while sophomore right-hander Desmond Poulson will get the nod on the mound for BYU.

Baxendale, a normal Friday night starter, won't start until Sunday this weekend when the Razorbacks face Texas at the Houston Classic.