Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Another strong pitching performance helped Arkansas to another postseason victory.

Ryne Stanek and Barrett Astin proved difficult for two-time defending national champion South Carolina to hit in a 2-1 Razorback victory at TD Ameritrade Park. They surrendered only four hits and one run as Stanek got the win and Astin the save as the Razorbacks ended South Carolina’s 22-game NCAA Tournament winning streak.

Up next for the Razorbacks (46-20) is the winner of the South Carolina-Kent State elimination game. A victory in that game puts Arkansas in the championship series. It’s the first 2-0 start for Arkansas since 1979 when the team finished second.

Arkansas pitchers have allowed only two runs over the last 32 1/3 innings. Since the NCAA Tournament began earlier this month the Razorbacks have a 1.75 earned run average.

“Our guys just came out and did what they do: Play hard, and throw a lot of strikes,” Coach Dave Van Horn said.

Stanek (8-4) gave up three hits in six innings. Astin, who got his 11^th save, allowed only one hit and kept the Gamecocks off balance over the final three innings. He gave up only one hit.

Offensively, the Razorbacks weren’t dominant. They simply did just enough to win.

Arkansas took a 1-0 lead in the first when Dominic Ficociello drove Tim Carver home with a double. Carver reached with a single and advanced on a sacrifice bunt.

Brian Anderson added another run for the Razorbacks in the fourth. He walked to lead off the inning and stole second with two outs to put runners in scoring position. Matt Vinson’s single scored Anderson to give Arkansas a 2-0 lead.

Vinson continues a big week in Omaha. He drove in a pair of runs in the College World Series opener against Kent State.

“It's a great feeling.,” Vinson said. “I'm trying to help my team out the best I can.  I keep doing my best.  If there's a guy in scoring position, I'm going to try to get him in any way I can.  So I just happened to get a hit in a couple of games.”

Scoring Anderson was a big help from Vinson. It gave the Razorbacks a cushion in a tight game.

South Carolina pulled within 2-1 in the fifth inning. Chase Vergason walked and a sacrifice bunt moved him into scoring position. He scored on a triple.