Pitchers Rule In Frisco

by Frisco Baseball Classic

FRISCO, Texas – Pitching was the story in the two games Friday at the Frisco Classic Presented by Baylor Scott & White Sports Therapy and Research at the STAR. Arizona got past Arkansas 3-0, while Oklahoma State topped Nebraska 1-0.

Between the two games, witnessed in person by 7,337 people at Dr Pepper Ballpark, batters struck out 40 times, including 27 times by starting pitchers.

In the opening game, Arizona broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning and added another run in the sixth and an insurance run against Arkansas in the bottom of the eighth. Starting pitchers for both Arizona and Arkansas combined for 17 strikeouts led by a career-high 10 by Blaine Knight in the loss. 

Arizona’s JC Cloney reached the eighth inning and finished with seven strikeouts and a pair of walks while allowing just three hits to improve to 3-0. Knight allowed just one earned run on five hits to drop to 1-1 on the year.

Arizona totaled seven hits in the game, all from different players. Jared Oliva and JJ Matijevic each drove in runs with doubles. Oliva scored Nick Quintana with a shot to left centerfield in the fifth and Matijevic plated Alfonso Rivas with his double to right centerfield in the sixth. 

The Razorbacks’ best chance came in the top of the eighth. With two out and two Arkansas runners on base, Luke Bonfield got ahold of a 1-0 pitch and drove it deep. A ball that would have been over the fence in most other parks fell into Oliva’s glove in front of the large 409 sign in straight away centerfield. It would have given Arkansas a 3-2 lead, but instead Arizona added an insurance run in the bottom of the frame.

In the nightcap, won by Oklahoma State 1-0, offense was at a premium. The Cowboys scored on a wild pitch in the third inning and made it stand the rest of the night. Oklahoma State managed six hits in the game but missed chances, stranding 10 base runners.

After Nebraska starter Derek Burkamper started the fourth by allowing a single and a walk, coach Darin Erstad brought in sophomore Matt Waldron, who gave up a single to the first batter he faced to load the bases. He struck out the side to prevent further damage.

Nebraska got a single from catcher Jesse Wilkening to lead off the Husker half of the fifth, but they couldn’t get anything more. Ben Miller had the only other hit for the Cornhuskers.

Designated hitter Colin Simpson managed two hits to pace the Cowboys.

Action continues Saturday with Oklahoma State and Arizona at 4 p.m. before Nebraska faces Arkansas at 7:30 p.m.