By Nate Allen
Special to the News-Times
FAYETTEVILLE - For five innings, James Karnichak, a potential first-round pick in this summer's MLB Draft, pitched as advertised against the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Then Karnichak and the Bryant Bulldogs bullpen imploded in Arkansas’ 10-run sixth.
So the Razorbacks overcame Bryant’s 3-0 lead and eventually beat the Bulldogs 11-8 in Friday’s first of a three-game series before 3,019 at Baum Stadium.
Catcher Grant Koch led Arkansas’ batting barrage with a two-run triple and run-producing grounder as Arkansas batted 14 times in the sixth and he homered leading off the eighth.
The series continues at 2 p.m. today and 1 p.m. Sunday.
Off last weekend’s sweep of Miami (Ohio), the Razorbacks advance to 4-0, while the Bulldogs are 2-3 after splitting last weekend’s four-game series at New Mexico State.
Karnichak blanked the Razorbacks on one hit and three walks while striking out five to take a 3-0 lead over Arkansas starter Blaine Knight.
A great play by Arkansas third baseman Hunter Wilson, who ranged to his left for a leaping stab and throwout, prevented Bryant from adding a run off winning reliever Dominic Taccolini in the sixth.
Freshman DH Evan Lee opened Arkansas’ sixth-inning salvo with an opposite-field double to left. Luke Bonfield walked, and Koch tripled both home.
Matt Knych, the losing pitcher and first of three relievers in the sixth, hit a batter, yielded Carson Shaddy’s single that scored Karnichak’s last batter before an onslaught of a hit batsman, two bases-loaded run-scoring walks, Eric Cole’s RBI single, Lee hit by a bases-loaded pitch, Koch netting a RBI on a grounder thrown away at first, and finally Dominic Fletcher’s sacrifice fly.
Helping himself by picking off a runner, Knight faced the minimum eight batters for 2 2-3.
Then two-run trouble hit.
James Marotta, the No. 9 hitter, doubled to left. Cole Fabio walked on a full count. Ryan Ward hit a fly ball into center that center fielder Dominic Fletcher judged would carry to him.
Too late, Fletcher rushed in catching on the bounce Ward’s two-out run-scoring single. Nick Angelini made it 2-0, singling to right to score Fabio before Knight unassisted retired Mickey Gasper on a grounder between the mound and first.
Chris Wright’s one-out solo home run, his first of the season, accounted for the Bulldogs’ run in the fourth.
Bryant scored a pair charged to reliever Jake Reindl on Gasper’s two -run single in the seventh.
A two-out error by first baseman Chad Spanberger opened the opportunity that pinch-hitter Tyler Panno knocked for a two-run home run over right off reliever Cannon Chadwick. Fabio and Ward both singled before Chadwick struck out Angelini, the potential tying run.
The Bulldogs loaded the bases starting the ninth off Cody Scroggins, but Josh Alberius bailed him out, notching a save with a double-play grounder well worth the run scored then a game-closing strikeout.