Razorbacks rally, stay alive in CWS
Virginia’s season ends after 3-1 lead goes awry
OMAHA, Neb. – Arkansas isn’t ready to let this season end.
Down to its last strike, the Razorbacks got the tying home run in the ninth, clutch pitching and finally the go-ahead double from Andrew Darr in the top of the 12th to defeat Virginia 4-3 at the College World Series on Wednesday night.
“These are tough kids who didn’t want to lose, didn’t want to go home,” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. “We won, and I’ll never forget.”
Brett Eibner’s two-out, two-run homer off Virginia closer Kevin Arico in the top of the ninth tied it at 3, and Arkansas’ Dallas Keuchel put a runner on third base in each of the last four innings but escaped each time. Keuchel, the Hogs’ No. 1 starter, made his first relief appearance of the season.
Arkansas (41-23) plays LSU on Friday and would have to beat the Tigers then and again Saturday to reach next week’s best-of-3 finals.
Virginia (49-15-1) was eliminated after going 1-2 in its first Omaha appearance.
“It took everything from Arkansas and everything from Virginia,” Cavaliers coach Brian O’Connor said. “Unfortunately, we came out on the short end.”
Darr battled for nine pitches against Andrew Carraway before drilling a grounder down the third-base line to score Jarrod McKinney from second. Darr also hit a two-run double to win the Super Regional over Florida State two weeks ago.