TOP 9 – Matt Goodheart flied out to left field to end the game as Texas Tech beats Arkansas 5-4.
Casey Martin struck out swinging. Hogs down to their final out.
Trevor Ezell popped up on the infield. One out and two for Martin.
Franklin followed with a bloop single to right. Arkansas is business in ninth.
Jacob Nesbit started off the ninth inning by being hit by a pitch. One one and no outs for Franklin.
BOT 8 – Scroggins was able to get out of the inning with a Texas Tech runner left on third. Arkansas enters the top on the ninth with the season on the line.
With two outs, Cody Masters sends a massive hit to the back wall on a triple and brings a runner home. The Raiders reclaim the lead 5-4.
The Red Raiders decided to test the arm of Optiz again and for the second time today, it backfired as he gunned down a stolen base attempt.
Texas Tech starts off the eighth inning with a sharp single to right and that prompts a mound visit and a pitching change for the Hogs. Cody Scroggins is coming on in relief with no outs in the inning and a runner on first.
TOP 8 – A wild pitch allows Kjerstad to move into scoring position as Opitz is at the plate with two outs but the Arkansas catcher strikes outs to end the inning. Tech coming up in a tie game.
Kenley fouled off a handful of pitches and finally lifted a fly ball to left field, deep enough to score Fletcher from third. It’s tied 4-4.
Dominic Fletcher worked a one out walk and then Heston Kjerstad followed with a single to right. Arkansas has runners on the corners with Jack Kenley up.
BOT 7 – Kostyshock gets a pair of ground outs to end the inning. Arkansas likely has their best scoring chance coming up as the heart of the lineup is due in the eighth.
Texas Tech picks up a one out single and that will be the end of the day for Kopps as Arkansas is bringing in Jacob Kostyschock from the bullpen, his first appearance in the CWS.
TOP 7 – Martin, who already had two hits in the game, couldn’t extend the inning as he struck out with Ezell on first. Razorbacks running out of chances and now needs the bullpen to hold.
Arkansas has picked up a few two out hits today, something they failed to do on Saturday against Florida State, but this time no one was on base as Ezell singled to bring up Martin.
BOT 6 – Texas Tech is using the long ball and their biggest bat gives the Red Raiders the lead. Josh Jung’s solo homer puts Arkansas down 4-3.
TOP 6 – Kenley grounds into a fielder’s choice at second but he was able to beat the relay throw to keep the inning alive and prevent the double play. Opitz follows by striking out and the inning is over. Tech coming up with the game still tied 3-3.
Arkansas looked like they would go down in order for the second straight inning but a dropped ball on the third strike and then a poor throw from the catcher allowed Kjerstad to reach safely. One out for Jack Kenley, who is 0-2 for with two strikeouts.
BOT 5 – Kevin Kopps retired the first two batters he faced but the third was the charm for Texas Tech as former Razorback Eastern Murrell hit a solo homer into the bullpen in right field. Razorbacks and Red Raiders tied 3-3.
TOP 5 – The Razorbacks couldn’t cash in on the two out double as Goodheart strikes out to end the inning. Arkansas is bringing in Kevin Kopps out of the bullpen to start the fifth inning on the mound.
Arkansas has sent a few balls for a ride and Casey Martin just added another as he lined one off the centerfield wall for a standup double with two outs. Martin missed a home run by about five feet.
BOT 4 – Noland gets out of the inning without any further damage as they head to the fifth with a 3-2 lead.
There was no doubt what the result would be when Cameron Warren connected with a hanging breaking ball. The Red Raiders cut the Arkansas lead to 3-2 after a monster home run to left field.
Casey Martin bobbled a grounder that might have been a tough play to turn two on but he was able to recover and get the force out at second base.
Arkansas fans don’t want to hear it, especially after what happened last season, but the rain has started in Omaha. Noland walked the leadoff man on four pitches.
TOP 4 – Nothing doing for the Hogs in the fourth inning as Nesbit flies out to the warning track to end the frame. Noland coming back out for the fourth inning with a three-run lead.
BOT 3 – Noland recorded his second strikeout of the game for the inning’s second out. The inning then ended as Casey Opitz gunned down the runner trying to advance to third on a ball in the dirt. Big shutdown inning for Noland.
Texas Tech has their first threat of the day after a leadoff single and a sacrifice bunt.
TOP 3 – Arkansas had a pair of runners on but Texas Tech gets out of the inning as Kjerstad struck out. Razorbacks add to their lead and now have a 3-0 advantage.
The middle of the Arkansas lineup is producing today as a well place Matt Goodheart grounder drove in Martin as the Razorbacks push the lead to 3-0 and prompts a Texas Tech mound visit.
Martin delivered with a liner to left that was just out of a diving defenders reach, allowing the ball get all the way to the wall. Franklin scored and Martin ended up at third with a triple. Razorbacks up 2-0.
Christian Franklin continues to have a nice showing in the CWS as he lined a one out single to centerfield. Franklin then stole second on a swinging strikeout by Ezell. Hogs have a runner in scoring position with two outs for Martin.
BOT 2 – For the second straight inning, Texas Tech picked up a two out base hit as Kurt Wilson’s grounder went up the middle and Jack Kenley’s throw was late and pulled Ezell off the first base bag. No damage done, though, as Noland gets a ground out to end the inning. Hogs lead 1-0
The inning started off with a hard chopper sent right back at Connor Noland that deflected off his hip. He was able to find the ball and record the out. The very next pitch was another chopper right back to the pitcher. In six batters for Texas Tech, Noland has gotten a glove on three of them.
TOP 2 – Just as ESPN put up a graphic showing that Arkansas had the fourth longest CWS drought of scoreless innings at 23, Heston Kjerstad goes opposite field for a solo homer. Hogs lead 1-0
BOT 1 – Arkansas puts up a zero as the No. 8 overall pick in the MLB Draft, Josh Jung flied out to shallow right field. It’s scoreless after one.
Noland retired the first two batters of the game but with two outs, Brian Klein’s chopper tipped off of the Arkansas pitcher’s glove and then into right field for a single.
TOP 1 – Matt Goodheart gave one a ride to deep left but Texas Tech hauled in the fly ball just shy of the wall as Arkansas goes down in order in the first. Connor Noland coming out to pitch to the Red Raiders.
Caleb Killian is officially getting the start for Texas Tech and brings an 8-3 record on the season into the matchup with the Hogs. First pitch is set for just after 1 p.m. here in Omaha and just a heads up, Arkansas will be the visiting team and will bat first and call the first base dugout home.
OMAHA (KFSM) – When the field of eight was set for the College World Series, it was easy to look ahead and assume Arkansas would be facing Texas Tech today.
After all, the Razorbacks and Red Raiders were the two better teams coming to Omaha from their side of the bracket and later today those two will meet. It’s just in the loser’s bracket.
Arkansas will face Texas Tech at 1 p.m. in a must win game and we’ll have plenty of updates for your throughout the day. If you have any questions about the Hogs or the matchup, jump on to the 5NEWS Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. as @5NEWSBobby will go live to preview the game.
Don’t forget to check back early and often as we’ll have live updates and analysis here on the game day blog as the day progresses.