Vanderbilt’s disappointing weekend came to its conclusion after a loss to No. 2 Arkansas (25-3, 7-1 SEC), 7-3. 

Vanderbilt was able to muster up three runs in the fourth inning — taking the lead after falling 2-0 in the third — but couldn’t hold the lead, giving up five runs — including two home runs  — in the eighth.

But while Arkansas’ offense was great, the real star was reliever and winning pitcher Ben Bybee. The 6’6 junior came in relief in the sixth and pitched 4 innings, 2 hits, 1 walk and no runs in 62 pitches. 

“It was hard-fought baseball,” head coach Tim Corbin said after the game. “I mean, certainly on their end, there was really good pitching, too. The one inning kind of blew us up — and it was one inning yesterday, too. They were good baseball games up to a certain point, and we lost it late.”

Top 1: Vanderbilt 0, Arkansas 0

Connor Fennell started efficiently, forcing a groundout to second to start the game before recording a pair of strikeouts, all in only 13 pitches.

Bottom 1: Vanderbilt 0, Arkansas 0

Jacob Humphrey got the ‘Dores started right away on the other end, forcing a full-count walk. He didn’t advance much further, as RJ Austin grounded into a double play that emptied the bases. Riley Nelson tried to reignite the spark with a single past the shortstop, but Brodie Johnston struck out swinging to end the inning.

Top 2: Vanderbilt 0, Arkansas 0

Fennell started the second much like the first, with two quick outs — a flyout to shortstop and a strikeout — in limited pitches. Then Camden Kozeal — who’s been hot all weekend — hit a bloop single over an outstretched Vastine for the first hit of the game. Kozeal would steal second but was left stranded from a groundout to third, ending the inning.

Bottom 2: Vanderbilt 0, Arkansas 0

After a Mac Rose strikeout, Colin Barczi singled on a ground ball to right field. Jonathan Vastine then came to the plate and laid a bunt down past the pitcher’s mound. Arkansas’s second baseman fielded the ball on the run and bobbled the transfer, causing no play at first. Barczi, however, was called for interference and was ruled out, so Rustan Rigdon came to the plate with Vastine on first and two outs. Rigdon struck out swinging, ending the inning.

Top 3: Vanderbilt 0, Arkansas 2

Fennell stayed hot with his fourth strikeout in the first batter he faced during the inning but gave up a ground rule double to Justin Thomas Jr. right after. Charles Davalan then came up to the plate and launched a home run over the left-center field wall, scoring two for the Razorbacks. Fennell settled back in with another strikeout before walking the next batter and then ending the inning with yet another strikeout.

Bottom 3: Vanderbilt 0, Arkansas 2

Landon Beidelschies, after some insurance from his bats, kept the door closed at the bottom of the frame. In only 15 pitches, he forced a flyout to center, a lineout to left and a flyout to left.

Top 4: Vanderbilt 0, Arkansas 2

Fennell continued to bolster his strikeout counter with a pair of Ks — his seventh and eighth of the game — to start the inning. He then forced a flyout to center, ending the inning without a baserunner.

Bottom 4: Vanderbilt 3, Arkansas 2

Nelson opened the inning with a bloop single off the hands and over the third baseman’s head. Noticing no one around the ball, Nelson took a hard turn and headed for second, where the ball beat him, but he avoided the tag to pick up the double. A Johnston flyout then sent Nelson to third. Rose was hit by a pitch shortly after, putting runners on the corners for Barczi. Barczi then turned on a pitch, sending it flying over the monstrous wall in left field, giving Vanderbilt a 3-2 lead. Vastine then added to the pain when his ground ball scurried to the left of first baseman Kozeal. Kozeal fielded it and tossed it to Beidelschies, who was a step too slow for Vastine. Vastine was then caught stealing on a ball in the dirt, and then Rigdon grounded out to third, ending the inning but not without the first lead of the game.

Top 5: Vanderbilt 3, Arkansas 2

Nolan Souza stepped up to the plate to lead off the inning and, on a 3-2 count, sent a ball flying to left and over the monster, but it just hooked foul. He’d strike out on the very next pitch. Fennell ended the inning with a lineout to center and his tenth strikeout of the game.

Bottom 5: Vanderbilt 3, Arkansas 2

After a Mike Mancini strikeout, Humphrey walked and Austin got hit by a pitch. Humphrey then snagged third, putting runners on the corners for Nelson. Nelson then lined out to second, followed by a Johnston flyout to end the inning without any damage.

Top 6: Vanderbilt 3, Arkansas 2

Fennell was replaced by Alex Kranzler for the inning. Fannell left the game with 5 innings, 3 hits, 2 earned runs, 1 walk and 10 strikeouts. Kranzler’s inning of work went by in only ten pitches, recording a pop out, a flyout and a strikeout.

Bottom 6: Vanderbilt 3, Arkansas 2

Like Vanderbilt, Arkansas also elected to replace pitchers, bringing in Bybee. Beidelschies concluded his outing with 5 innings pitched, 6 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 walks and 4 strikeouts. Bybee began his outing by striking out Rose and then walking Barczi. Vastine then came up to the plane and hit a line drive right over the second baseman’s outstretched arm and the ball rolled all the way to the wall. Barczi was held at third but Vastine, who wasn’t paying attention to the sign, kept running past second and almost met his teammate at third base. Having to retreat, Vastine was tagged at second for the second out of the inning. Rigdon struck out to finish the frame.

Top 7: Vanderbilt 3, Arkansas 2

Brent Iredale recorded a leadoff single with a ground ball to the right side. Kranzler then forced two fly outs before giving up a double to the left-center gap. Iredale rounded third hard on the couple but was held from scoring. Iredale would never score, with Thomas Jr. striking out in his at bat.

Bottom 7: Vanderbilt 3, Arkansas 2

Vanderbilt went three-up, three-down in the inning with a strikeout, a lineout and a flyout.

Top 8: Vanderbilt 3, Arkansas 7

Davalan stayed hot with his second home run of the match, a solo shot to lead off the inning, tying the game for Arkansas. Then, after Wehiwa Aloy struck out, Logan Maxwell hit a home run of his own to left field, giving the Razorbacks the lead once again. Kranzler forced a lineout to third and then gave up a single. At that moment, Corbin walked to the mound, replacing Kranzler with McElvain. Kranzler finished with 2.2 innings pitched, 5 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 strikeouts and no walks.

McElvain faced Kozeal to start his outing, walking the sophomore in five pitches. He’d then walk the next batter, loading the bases for Souza. McElvain’s first pitch to Souza spiked into the dirt and under Barczi’s legs, allowing a runner to score. Later in the at-bat, Souza would rope a ball to left field and off the wall, and Souza would get thrown out at second, but not before the other two baserunners could score, extending the Razorback lead to 7-3.

Bottom 8: Vanderbilt 3, Arkansas 7

Nelson stepped up to the plate looking to turn the tides after the disastrous inning, and — though it took eight pitches — he struck out swinging. Johnston struck out swinging as well. Rose recorded the third strikeout of the inning, though his was looking.

Top 9: Vanderbilt 3, Arkansas 7

In just 0.1 innings and 14 pitches of work, McElvain’s day was over. He was replaced by Tommy O’Rourke. He recorded a two-pitch popout to first base and a flyout to center, and then Humphrey made a diving catch in foul territory to end the inning.

Bottom 9: Vanderbilt 3, Arkansas 7

Barczi grounded out to the shortstop on the first pitch of the inning, and Vastine singled right after. Chris Maldonado was then called to replace Rigdon; he flew out to left. Braden Holcomb — replacing Mancini — struck out swinging to finish the contest.

Vanderbilt will be right back at home against Western Kentucky on Tuesday, April 1, at 6 p.m. CDT.