SOUTHEAST BASEBALL OPENS WITH 4-3 LOSS TO ARKANSAS

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Southeast's baseball team stranded runners on base in all but one inning in a season-opening 4-3 loss to the University of Arkansas Friday afternoon.

Southeast, which had six hits, was issued four walks, had two batters hit by pitches and saw Arkansas commit four errors. But the abundance of baserunners translated into just single runs in the first, third and fifth innings.

With the game tied 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth, Razorback first baseman Wes McCrotty homered off reliever Jeffrey Hilz with two out in the inning. Hilz, who relieved starter Dan Huesgen at the beginning of the inning, had struck out the first two batters he faced.

Center-fielder Jeremy Johnson collected two of Southeast's hits and finished with two RBIs. Johnson had an RBI single in the third inning that pushed the Indians ahead 2-1. After Arkansas had tied the game 2-2 with a run in the fourth, Johnson put Southeast back on top in the fifth with a sacrifice fly that scored Clemente Bonilla, who opened the inning with a triple.

Arkansas tied the score in the bottom of the inning off Huesgen, who allowed six hits in five innings. He struck out three and walked two. Hilz allowed just McCrotty's home run in three innings. He walked two and struck out three. McCrotty had two of Arkansas' four hits.

Starter Matt Riethmaier, one of four Razorback pitchers, hurled five innings of four-hit ball to notch the win. He struck out five and walked two.

Gary Hogan pitched 1 2-3 innings of one-hit relief to notch the save.

The two teams will pair off again today with a 1 p.m. game.