FAYETTEVILLE — Seven pitches and six balls into Arkansas freshman Connor Noland’s start on Saturday, he was already getting a visit from Razorbacks pitching coach Matt Hobbs.
Three batters in, he had the bases loaded, Kole Ramage was warming up in the bullpen and Missouri ace TJ Sikkema and his 0.46 ERA were getting ready to take the mound with a likely lead.
But Noland escaped unscathed by throwing two double-play grounders, one that was muffed and another that came about via runner’s interference, to keep Missouri off the scoreboard.
Arkansas rewarded Noland’s escape by using fellow freshman Christian Franklin’s three RBIs, including a clutch two-out, two-strike, two-run single in the fourth inning that proved to be the game-winner as the Razorbacks took down Missouri 4-3 at Baum-Walker Stadium.