FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Defense wins championships is an established idea within the spectrum of football and basketball. In baseball, championships are won on the mound, which is exactly how Arkansas beat Missouri State Sunday afternoon to advance to the College World Series.

Fans in attendance got their money’s worth in an all-or-nothing Game 3. The Razorbacks went on to win a 3-2 barnburner against the Bears behind the pitching of closer Zach Jackson. Both pitching staffs were phenomenal, but Jackson stood out the most of any of the pitchers who took the mound. The sophomore pitcher has played big for the Hogs all season, and came through again with a stellar performance.

“I had confidence in my defense behind me,” Jackson said. “I feel like as a college baseball player, you live for that moment right there, and luckily we were able to come out with a win.”

Eleven outs made for Jackson’s longest save of the season. The Tulsa native closed one or two innings consistently, but Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn had the confidence to put him on the mound in the sixth inning with only one out.

“I’m not going to lie, the heat was getting to me a little bit yesterday,” Jackson said “I was concerned for me and James Teague coming off short rest.”

The 87-degree weather and short rest didn’t seem to bother him. Jackson struck out six, only allowing one hit in 3.2 innings pitched. The sophomore didn’t give up an earned run or a hit to the dismay of Bears fans.

“I felt like people kind of doubted us a bit,” Jackson said. “We were struggling, and we are closer than ever right now.”

Even Missouri State coach Keith Guttin couldn’t overlook Jackson’s performance.

“He’s a big-leaguer,” Guttin said. “He has a breaking ball that very few people on earth can hit.”

Jackson may have been the story of the game, but the story of the series was the amount of men Missouri State (49-12) left on base. Over the three games, the Bears left an astonishing 30 on base compared to the Hogs only stranding 17.

“Scoring runs is something we’ve been able to do all year,” Bears second baseman Dylan Becker said. “Hats off to their pitching staff, they found a way to make pitches when they needed to.”

The beginning of the two previous games looked nothing like Game 3. Instead of the Bears getting off to a hot start, the Omaha-bound Razorbacks struck first with a three-run first inning. Left fielder Tyler Spoon had an RBI single to score third baseman Bobby Wernes. Then, second baseman Rick Nomura hit a sacrifice fly to score center fielder Andrew Benintendi, who walked earlier in the inning. Designated hitter Brett MacAfee kept things going with a double that brought Spoon home.

Despite not scoring after the first inning, Arkansas (40-23) held on. 

Missouri State got a couple on base in the first, but like all series, failed to convert. After the rough first inning, the Bears’ pitching staff was locked in from there. Starter Jordan Knutson (6-2) only gave up four hits after the first inning.

“I think going in, you are a little concerned how anyone is going to be in the first inning in that type of environment,” Guttin said. “After that, I have to give him credit.”

Added Knutson: “I was missing spots in the first inning and wasn’t locked in. They were hitting my mistakes.”

Relievers Sam Perez and Bryan Young were just as solid for the Bears, allowing only one hit in three innings pitched.

Arkansas starter James Teague handled his starting role well coming off short rest. His stats included four innings, five hits and two walks. Reliever Lance Phillips got the win for the Razorbacks pitching 1.1 innings allowing two hits and one walk.

Missouri State scored on an RBI single from first baseman Justin Paulsen, which brought in third baseman Jake Burger. Third baseman Bobby Wernes was credited with an error earlier in the inning, the only error of the day.

In the bottom of the sixth, Blake Graham scored on a RBI single by second baseman Dylan Becker, which tightened the score at 3-2. Graham slid in at home, and it appeared Arkansas catcher Tucker Pennell tagged him, but he was called safe. No one scored after the sixth.

“It was a great weekend and a great atmosphere,” Guttin said. “Our guys competed hard and came up a little bit short.”

Jackson Lowery’s great effort yesterday gave Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn an opportunity to rest his pitching staff for Game 3.

“These guys know, I know it’s really hard to get to Omaha,” Van Horn said. “It is not easy and these guys persevered and they did it.”

A crowd of 11,694 fans attended Sunday’s game, and 35,730 fans attended the entire weekend, a new Baum Stadium record.

Arkansas will take on Virginia in its first game of the College World Series. The Razorbacks lost to the Cavaliers last year in the Charlottesville Regional.

Notes

·    In the first inning a Missouri State hit was ruled fair. The umpires reviewed the play and the call stood.

·    Missouri State third baseman Jake Burger did something not seen often in college baseball: He broke his bat.

·    Burger advanced to second base on a balk by James Teague in the second innings.

·        Quotables

o   “I give credit to the players for hanging in there and not getting so frustrated that they shut down a little bit,” Arkansas left fielder Joe Serrano.

o   “We are going to Omaha,” Arkansas right fielder Tyler Spoon.

o   "I’ve been in this for a long time, and they are probably the most unselfish group I’ve ever been around,” Missouri State coach Keith Guttin.

o   “Everyone on their staff did a great job this weekend,” Missouri State starter Jordan Knutson on Arkansas pitching.