Diamond Hogs' epic collapse in the ninth ends Omaha run

No. 3 Arkansas (50-15, 20-10 SEC) was walked off by the No. 6 LSU Tigers (51-15, 19-11 SEC) in comeback fashion, 6-5, on Wednesday night at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb. The Razorbacks are eliminated from the postseason.

Arkansas baseball vs LSU: College World Series game 2

The game was scoreless for the first three innings until the top of the fourth inning when C Ryder Helfrick led off by smashing a solo shot to center field on the first pitch he saw off of RHP Zac Cowan to give Arkansas a 1-0 lead. It was his 15th bomb and 37th RBI of the season, with the ball traveling 417 feet at 108 MPH.

After a couple more innings of quiet offense from both sides, LSU began the bottom of the sixth with a leadoff double by DH Ethan Frey on the first pitch he saw. SS Steven Milam was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second, forcing Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn to remove LHP Landon Beidelschies for RHP Gabe Gaeckle.

C Luis Hernandez laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners in scoring position, but 1B Jared Jones struck out swinging for the second out. RF Josh Pearson was intentionally walked to load up the bases, and the Tigers sent out left-handed hitter Jake Brown to pinch hit for CF Chris Stanfield. Brown lifted a two-run single to left center to score Milam and Frey to hand LSU the lead while Pearson moved over to third base. Brown was caught in a rundown trying to steal second base to end the inning.

Beidelschies tossed five innings in his 13th start of the year (16th appearance) while striking out a career-high nine batters on 78 pitches (52 strikes). He allowed two runs, three hits, a walk and hit two batters.

The Hogs opened up the top of the eighth with a leadoff single by CF Justin Thomas Jr. but he was out at second after LF Charles Davalan reached on a fielder’s choice. SS Wehiwa Aloy singled to left field, and RF Logan Maxwell was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Helfrick grounded a ball to short and reached on a fielder’s choice with Maxwell getting thrown out at second and Davalan scoring from third. A bad throw by Milam got away from Jones at first to allow Wehiwa Aloy to round third and score to give Arkansas the lead back, 3-2.

Milam popped out to right field, and Hernandez grounded out to short to begin the bottom of the eighth. Jones swung on the first pitch and clobbered a solo shot to left center to tie the game up. Pearson kept the ending going with a single to left field, and Brown drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Gaeckle settled back in and struck out 2B Daniel Dickinson to get the Razorbacks out of the jam.

After DH Kuhio Aloy grounded out to short to start the top of the ninth, 1B Reese Robinett singled to center, and 3B Brent Iredale doubled to left center to place runners in scoring position with one out. LSU RHP Chase Shores was relieved by RHP Jacob Mayers to face Thomas. Thomas roped a two-run single to left field on the first pitch he saw to retake the lead, 5-3. He stole second base while Davalan struck out swinging and advanced to third on an errant throw by Hernandez. Wehiwa Aloy struck out looking to end the rally.

LHP Cole Gibler was brought out of the bullpen in relief of Gaeckle to close out the game. Gaeckle provided three innings of relief while allowing a run, four hits and two walks with four strikeouts on 51 pitches (34 strikes).

Gibler struck out pinch hitter John Pearson, but LF Derek Curiel reached on a throwing error by Robinett that allowed him to run all the way to second base. Frey drew a walk to placed runners on first and second. Milam reached on a fielder's choice with Curiel getting thrown out at third for the second out. Hernandez came through for the Tigers with a two-run double to left field on a misplayed ball by Davalan to score Frey and Milam.

RHP Aiden Jimenez was placed on the mound in relief of Gibler after the game-tying double. Jones stepped up the plate and delivered with a walk off RBI single to center field that was tipped off of 2B Camden Kozeal's glove.

The Razorbacks finish the year with a record of 50-15 with a conference record of 20-10.