Six-Run 8th Dooms Razorbacks at SEC Tournament

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Nick Schmidt departed Wednesday nights first-round SEC Tournament game at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium with an 8-2 lead and what appeared to be his eighth win of the season. But SEC Champion Florida had something to say about that. The Gators scored six runs in the eighth inning with the help of two Razorback errors and three hits to tie the score at eight. Jeff Corsalettis two-run home run highlighted the inning for Florida. Daryl Maday was tagged with four runs - three earned - on two hits in one-third of an inning. Brian McLelland came on and surrendered the home run to Corsaletti. Charley Boyce (10-8) came on to get Arkansas out of the eighth inning, but gave up a RBI single in the ninth inning to Stephen Barton to give the Gators a 9-8 win. Schmidt pitched seven innings in the no decision. He allowed two runs on seven hits while walking four and striking out seven. He threw a complete-game seven hitter against the Gators in Fayetteville on May 6. Brian Walker led the Razorbacks 14-hit attack with three hits and a RBI. Criag Gentry also collected three hits and a RBI. Danny Hamblin went 2-for-5 with two RBI. Florida starting pitcher Stephen Locke pitched 5.1 innings and allowed five runs - four earned - on nine hits while walking one and striking out seven. Corsaletti finished with two hits, while Barton, who pinch hit in the eighth inning finished 2-for-2 with two RBI. Arkansas scored first for the first time in seven games as Danny Hamblin doubled home two runs in the top of the first inning. It was also the first time the Hogs have scored in the first inning since the Saturday game against Florida at Baum Stadium on May 7. The Gators got a run back in the bottom half of the inning on Brian Jeroloman RBI single to center field that scored Matt LaPorta, who singled to left with two outs. The Razorbacks got the run back in the second inning on Craig Gentrys RBI single to center field that scored a hustling Brian Walker from second base. Chris Hollensworth singled home the Hogs fourth run in the fifth inning with a lined shot to center field. Arkansas plated another run in the inning on a throwing error by the Gators third basemen to take a 5-1 lead. Schmidt dodged a bullet in the fifth inning with one run already in and Gators on first and second base. The lefty induced a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of SEC Player of the Year Matt LaPorta and then got Brandon McArthur to ground out to the pitcher to end the inning. The Razorbacks will play the loser of the Alabama/Ole Miss game at 1 p.m. on Thursday.