UA-LSU: Over the Wall Catch Ends Hog Hopes

By Jean Neuberger - May 06, 2007

It looked like some of the old Baum magic would come back for Arkansas.

Danny Hamblin opened off the ninth with a solo shot to left center, cutting the LSU lead to 5-3 and bringing Paul Bertuccini out of the bullpen to try and finish the game. He struck out Brian Walker, but Matt Willard got an infield single that bounced off the leg of LSU 1B Sean Ochinko's foot. With the tying run at the plate, Jake Dugger fouled off pitch after pitch, but on his 11th pitch, Bertuccini got Dugger to pop out to shallow center.

Then, Jacob Julius came up to the plate. Julius hit a bomb to right center that had the Hog fans roaring and the UA players out of the dugout...it looked gone...it seemed gone...but LSU CF Jared Mitchell jumped over the wall and made the catch as the ball was leaving the ballpark.

What was inches from a tie game ended up a 5-3 LSU victory. The Tigers improve to 28-21-1 with the win, and pick up a huge game and series win in the SEC. Arkansas drops to 36-14, and falls yet again in the SEC West. They'll need Auburn to beat Miss. State to keep a 3 game lead in the West, and they'll need a miracle comeback from Georgia to retain any lead in the overall SEC standings (Vandy leads 7-4 in the 5th at last glance).

WP - Jared Bradford (10-2)
LP - Duke Welker (5-3)

What a heartbreaker for the Hogs...in fact, that's the second game I've covered for CSTV.com where Arkansas has lost in the bottom of the 9th on a leaping catch over the wall. On the other hand, what a huge victory for a young LSU ballclub. This series will definitely open the eyes of the NCAA Selection Committee.

My thanks to the UA staff and to CSTV.com for three games of intense SEC baseball. Until later, we bid you good day from Fayetteville, where LSU has pulled off a stunning series win over the Razorbacks.