Stephen Richards has decided to skip his senior season at Arkansas and has signed with the Florida Marlins, Arkansas’ athletic department announced Thursday afternoon. The Marlins drafted the left-handed pitcher in the eighth round of the 2009 Major League Draft.

Richards, who spent most of the last two seasons as the Razorbacks’ closer, leaves Arkansas tied for fourth in career saves (13). The 5-foot-11, 175-pound native of Plano, Texas, signed on Wednesday in Jupiter, Fla., and will leave on Saturday to join the Jamestown (N.Y.) Jammers of the New York Penn League.

Richards becomes the second Arkansas pitcher to leave school early. Dallas Keuchel, also a junior this past season, signed with the Houston Astros on Sunday. Here’s a link to the release sent out by Arkansas.