OMAHA, Neb. -- It took a dramatic comeback and extra innings, but Arkansas is still alive at the College World Series.
A two-run homer in the top of the ninth by Brett Eibner brought the Razorbacks back from the edge of defeat, and Andrew Darr brought home the winning run with a double in the 12th to help Arkansas edge Virginia 4-3 and keep their College World Series championship hopes alive.
Arkansas will next face LSU in a Friday matchup at 1 p.m. The Razorbacks will need to beat LSU twice to reach the best-of-three championship round that starts next week.
The game was a pitcher's duel for the first four innings, as Arkansas Drew Smyly and Virginia's Danny Hultzen both pitched well early on.
In the fifth inning, Virginia got on the board with a solo home run by John Hicks, then added another running with Danny Hultzen's RBI double.
Arkansas got back to within 2-1 in the seventh with Eibner's sacrifice fly, but it looked like Virginia was in command in the eighth with Dan Grovatt hit a solo home run to left field to make it 3-1.
Virginia got the first two Arkansas batters out in the top of the ninth and were one pitch away from advancing when Zack Cox singled and Eibner followed with a homer to left field to tie the game.
The Cavaliers had chances to win the game in each of the last four innings. Arkansas got out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom ninth with a double play, and reliever Dallas Keuchel pitched the Razorbacks out of two-out, two-on situations in the 10th and 11th innings. After Arkansas broke the tie with Darr's double to left, Virginia had the tying run on base with one out in the bottom of the 12th, but couldn't bring him home.
James McCann was 3-for-4 and Cox and Jarrod McKinney each added two hits for the Razorbacks. Hicks and Steven Proscia each had three hits for the Cavaliers, who were eliminated from the tournament.
On Thursday, North Carolina and Arizona State meet at 6 p.m. at Rosenblatt Stadium, with the winner facing Texas Friday night at 6 p.m.
Great seats for the College World Series are available at Ticket Express -- where no College World Series game is ever sold out.
College World Series Schedule, Results
(All times CDT)
Saturday, June 13
Game 1 -- Arkansas 10, Cal State Fullerton 6
Game 2 -- LSU 9, Virginia 5
Sunday, June 14
Game 3 -- Arizona State 5, North Carolina 2 (10 inn.)
Game 4 -- Texas 7, Southern Miss 6
Monday, June 15
Game 5 -- Virginia 7, Cal State Fullerton 5 (CSF eliminated)
Game 6 -- LSU 9, Arkansas 1
Tuesday, June 16
Game 7 -- North Carolina 11, Southern Miss 4 (Southern Miss eliminated)
Game 8 -- Texas 10, Arizona State 6
Wednesday, June 17
Game 9 -- Arkansas 4, Virginia 3 12 inn. (Virginia eliminated)
Thursday, June 18
Game 10 -- North Carolina (48-17) vs. Arizona State (50-13), 6 p.m.
Friday, June 19
Game 11 -- LSU (53-16) vs. Arkansas (41-23), 1 p.m.
Game 12 -- Texas (48-14-1) vs. Winner Game 10, 6 p.m.
Saturday, June 20
Game 13 -- Winner Game 11 vs. Loser Game 11, 1 p.m.
Game 14 -- Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 12, 6 p.m.
(NOTE: If only one "if necessary" game is played, it will be at 6 p.m.)
Monday, June 22
Championship Game 1 -- Bracket winners, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, June 23
Championship Game 2 -- Bracket winners, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, June 24
Championship Game 3 -- Bracket winners, 6 p.m. (If necessary)
