Arkansas cruises past Kent State in CWS
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}DJ Baxendale spun 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball Saturday, propelling Arkansas to an 8-1 victory over Kent State in Game 3 of the College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park.
Baxendale gave up his first hit with two outs in the fifth and only allowed three base hits overall. The right-hander walked one and struck out five to earn the victory. Brandon Moore notched the save with 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief.
Jake Wise belted a solo homer and knocked in three runs, while Matt Vinson plated a pair as Arkansas improved to 10-12 all-time in the College World Series.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The third-seeded Golden Flashes got 5 2/3 innings from starter David Starn, who gave up five runs on six hits and six walks.
Kent State finished with just four hits as a team, including a solo shot from Jimmy Rider.
The Razorbacks loaded the bases in the bottom of the first on a trio of walks before Brian Anderson ripped an RBI single back up the middle that knocked the glove off of Starns' hand and trickled through the infield.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Arkansas tacked on a run in the second when Wise launched a two-out homer over the wall in left field and pressed the lead to 3-0 in the fifth when Wise walked to start the frame and scored on Joe Serrano's RBI single to center.
Rider clubbed a two-out homer in the top of the sixth to get the Golden Flashes on the board, but Vinson's two-run double in the bottom half increased the Arkansas lead to 5-1 before Wise plated two more with a single in the eighth to account for the final margin.
The Razorbacks are making their seventh appearance in Omaha and third under head coach Dave Van Horn. Kent State, meanwhile, has never been to the College World Series before and must now win out if they wish to continue their run.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Arkansas awaits the winner of that matchup, while Kent State will face the loser when Bracket 2 resumes play on Monday night.
A pair of top-seeds square off in the nightcap as defending champion South Carolina rides its 21-game postseason win-streak against No. 1 seed Florida.