HOUSTON – No. 18 Arkansas scored seven runs over the third and fourth innings Sunday to erase a five-run Texas Tech first as the Razorbacks topped the 23rd-ranked Red Raiders, 10-6, in the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic finale at Minute Maid Park.

The Red Raiders (6-2) closed the College Classic with a 2-1 showing for the weekend against three nationally-ranked opponents as Tech previously defeated No. 9 Houston, 3-2, on Friday afternoon and No. 6 Louisiana, 5-3, in 10 innings on Saturday.

Tech plated all five of its runs with two outs in the opening inning, beginning with a Tyler Neslony RBI double that landed at the base of the right field wall. Ryan Long added another run later in the inning on a bases-loaded walk that was followed by a two-run double from Michael Davis and a RBI infield single from Cory Raley.

The quick start marked the most runs for the Red Raiders in the opening inning since Tech scored seven against Abilene Christian on April 8, 2014.

The Red Raiders scored only one run the rest of the way, however, which came on an Anthony Lyons pinch-hit RBI single in the fifth. Tech was able to bring the tying run to the plate again in the seventh, loading the bases before Arkansas (8-0) worked out of the jam.

After being retired in order over the first two innings by Red Raider starter Ty Damron, Arkansas began to cut into Tech’s lead with four runs in the third inning and three more in the fourth before Clark Eagan connected on a solo home run to lead off the fifth. The Razorbacks also added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh.

Both teams went to their bullpens early and often as 14 different pitchers saw action in the game that lasted 4 hours and five minutes. It marked Tech’s longest game since the Red Raiders went 16 innings with Abilene Christian a year ago (4 hours, 42 minutes).

Cannon Chadwick (1-0) picked up the win for the Razorbacks after tossing 2.1 innings of relief where he allowed one run off three hits and three strikeouts. Arkansas starter Keaton McKinney lasted just two-thirds of an inning before the Red Raiders chased him following five runs off three hits and a pair of walks.

Hayden Howard (1-1), meanwhile, suffered his first loss of the season as the southpaw surrendered three runs off three hits and a strikeout in relief of Damron. Damron previously lasted 2.2 innings, giving up up four runs (three earned) off four hits and three strikeouts.

Tanner Gardner led the Red Raiders at the plate as he reached base in four of five plate appearances as part of a 2-for-3 day. He was joined with multi-hit performances by Raley and Davis, who were both 2-for-4 and 2-for-5 overall.

The Red Raiders return to Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park on Tuesday night when Tech opens a two-game midweek series with New Mexico State. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and then 2 p.m. on Wednesday.

Courtesy: Texas Tech Sports Information Department