March 26, 2016
Joshua Palacios hit a 3-run home run on Saturday. (Auburn Photo)
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" Junior Joshua Palacios hit his third home run of the season, but Auburn baseball fell to No. 18 Arkansas 14-7 on Saturday at Baum Stadium.
Palacios' 3-run homer in the seventh gave Auburn 18 home runs for the season in 23 games, equaling the 2015 season total (62 games).
Holding a 3-0 lead, Arkansas (17-6, 2-3) recorded back-to-back five-run innings in the fifth and sixth. The Hogs added a run on a solo homer by Chad Spanberger in the eighth.
Anfernee Grier singled in the third inning and has reached base in 24 consecutive games dating back to the final game of 2015.
Jackson Burgreen was 2-for-4 and drove in a run in the eighth. Palacios added a RBI single in the frame to finish with a career-high four driven in.
Daniel Robert had two hits on the night. Damon Haecker came off the bench and doubled in the ninth to score two.
Freshman Casey Mize took the loss to drop to 1-2 on the season. He allowed three runs (two earned) in 3.2 innings pitched. Reliever Andrew Mitchell was charged with five runs (one earned) on the night. Arkansas native Daniel Sprinkle and Marc Frazier also saw action out of the bullpen.
Michael Bernal hit two home runs and finished with four RBI. Luke Bonfield hit a 2-run homer.
Keaton McKinney got the victory for Arkansas to improve to 1-0.
Auburn and Arkansas wrap the series on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. CT.