Arkansas drops opener to Georgia

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Georgia starting pitcher Alex Wood threw a complete game, allowing two runs on seven hits with 11 strikeouts, to lead the Bulldogs to a 4-2 win over No. 13 Arkansas in the series opener on Friday night in front of 7,552 fans at Baum Stadium.

The Razorbacks dropped to 22-7 and 5-5 in the Southeastern Conference with the loss, while Georgia improved to 19-11 and 5-5 in league play after the victory.

Dominic Ficociello had a pair of hits with a run scored to lead Arkansas at the plate. Matt Reynolds and Jake Wise each had a hit and a RBI for the Razorbacks.

Kyle Farmer went 2-for-4 to pace the Bulldogs. Brett DeLoach and Conor Welton each contributed a RBI and a hit.

Wood earned the win on the mound for Georgia to improve to 4-1 on the season. Wood gave up two runs on seven hits and struck out 11 over his nine innings of work to earn the victory.

Arkansas starter Ryne Stanek suffered his first loss of the season to drop to 6-1 on the season. The sophomore right hander gave up four runs, three earned, on six hits with eight strikeouts in six innings of work.

Cade Lynch came in and pitched outstanding in relief for the Razorbacks. Lynch struck out four and only allowed one hit in three innings.

The Razorbacks struck first with a run in the bottom of the second. Ficociello led off the inning with a double to the left-center field alley and then moved to third on a groundout to second by Sam Bates. Wise then laid down a perfect bunt up the first base line for an infield single that scored Ficociello for the game's first run.

Georgia tied the game with a run in the top of the fifth. With one out, Curt Powell doubled to left-center field and advanced to third after a fielding error by Jacob Morris. A wild pitch brought home Powell to tie the game at one.

Arkansas regained the lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth. After the first two batters of the inning were retired, Tim Carver and Jacob Mahan hit back-to-back singles to put runners at first and second. Reynolds then doubled to left field to score Carver. Mahan also tried to score on the play, but he was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

The Bulldogs took their first lead of the game with three runs in the top of the sixth. Levi Hyams began the inning with a double and then moved to third on a single by Farmer. A walk to Hunter Cole loaded the bases. Hyams came in to score on a wild pitch to tie the game. DeLoach then drove in a run with a ground out to third. After a strike out of Colby May for the second out, Welton reached on an infield single to short. Cole never stopped running on the play and was able to score all the way from second on the infield hit.

Arkansas had a chance to cut into the lead in the home half of the eighth. With one out, Mahan walked and then advanced to third on a two-out pinch hit single to center field by Jimmy Bosco. Ficociello grounded into a fielder's choice to short to end the threat.

The Razorbacks were unable to get anything going in the last of the ninth as Arkansas was retired in order.

Arkansas and Georgia continue the three-game weekend series on Saturday at 2:05 p.m. The Razorbacks are scheduled to start sophomore righty Barrett Astin (2-2, 0.99), while the Bulldogs will start senior right hander Michael Palazzone (0-3, 5.03).