Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

FAYETTEVILLE – Five Arkansas pitchers combined for the team’s second straight shutout, while Dominic Ficociello hit his second home run as the No. 4 Razorbacks defeated Gonzaga 1-0 on Tuesday night at Baum Stadium.

Arkansas (15-2) won its fifth straight while Gonzaga dropped to 10-4.

The Arkansas staff continued its strong pitching, posting its third shutout in the last four games and fourth of the season. The last time the Razorbacks turned in back-to-back shutouts was in 2007 when Arkansas blanked Alabama on May 23 and South Carolina on May 24. Dating to the second game of the Binghamton series, Arkansas has thrown 22 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings.

Colby Suggs (1-0) earned the victory, working a scoreless inning in relief and striking out one.

Barrett Astin closed it out and got his fourth save. Astin struck out one in 1 2/3 hitless innings. Astin has thrown 14 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed just two hits.

Chris Oliver made his first start for the Razorbacks and pitched well, throwing 3 2/3 scoreless innings and striking out two. Cade Lynch and Ty Wright also pitched in relief for Arkansas. Lynch struck out one and gave up a hit in 2 1/3 innings, while Wright pitched 1/3 of an inning, striking out one.

Gonzaga starter Billy Moon (1-1) went the distance but took the loss. Moon allowed one run on three hits and struck out two in his eight innings.

Ficociello was the offensive star of the night for Arkansas, providing two of the team’s three hits, including the game-winning home run in the bottom of the seventh. The homer for Ficociello was his second of the season. Jacob Morris also had a hit and drew a walk for the Razorbacks. Tim Carver saw his 13-game hitting streak come to an end, finishing 0 for 4.

Travis Forbes and Marco Gonzales had two hits to lead the Bulldogs. Royce Bolinger and Eric Lane also had one hit each.

Gonzaga had the best scoring chance of the early innings, loading the bases in the top of the fourth with two out. However, Lynch was able to get out of trouble as he got Andy Hunter to fly out to center field to end the threat.

Arkansas had its first good scoring chance in the bottom of the fifth. Sam Bates reached on a leadoff walk. Bates then stole second and moved to third when the catcher’s throw to second was low and got away. However, the Razorbacks were unable to bring Bates home as Gonzaga kept the game scoreless.

The Razorbacks broke the deadlock with a run in the bottom of the seventh when Ficociello sent a 2-1 pitch into the right-field bullpen.

Gonzaga would get its last runner with one out in the eighth. However, Astin came in and worked out of trouble, retiring the next two batters and then retiring the Bulldogs in order in the ninth.

Arkansas and Gonzaga close the two-game midweek series on Wednesday at 3:05 p.m. The Razorbacks will start redshirt junior Trent Daniel (0-0, 13.50), while the Bulldogs have not announced a starter for the finale.