Week 5 Recap

Diamond Hogs get back on winning track

                Arkansas (13-8, 3-3) went 4-1 this last week, taking 2 from Grambling State and 2 out of 3 from Alabama (15-8, 3-3).  They sandwiched a very bad game on Friday with enough hitting and great pitching to get three 1 run wins and two shutouts.  They won a close game over Grambling State on Tuesday 4-3 before sweeping the series 8-0 on Wednesday.  It was quite a different story on Friday night after a rain delay opened up the offensive flood gates on the way to a 17-9 loss to Alabama.  The rest of the weekend went completely the Hogs’ way as they held the Crimson Tide to 1 run on 8 hits over the next 18 innings while striking out 16, using only 3 pitchers.

                The Hogs hit for a .279 average, led by third baseman Bobby Wernes who had 8 hits including 1 in each game, and first baseman Eric Fisher who had 7 hits of his own including 3 doubles in a 4 for 4 day against Grambling on Wednesday.  Each of them had 4 RBI and they both contributed great defensive plays while not committing an error.  Freshman Clark Eagan hit .357 in 4 games and scored 4 runs while getting on base in half his plate appearances.  Eagan may have earned more playing time in left field with Joe Serrano struggling to get only 1 hit in his 10 at bats.  Brian Anderson and Tyler Spoon both had 5 hits with Spoon driving in 6 runs, 4 of which came on 1 swing for his second home run of the year.  Andrew Benintendi fought for his leadoff role, registering 4 hits and 2 RBI while posting a .375 on base percentage. 

                The Razorback pitching had a very Jekyll and Hide look this week.  They were touched for 17 runs on 15 hits and walked 6 in the Friday night loss.  Jalen Beeks gave up 2 earned runs in 3.1 innings before the 53 minute delay rained him out of the ball game and forced him to give way to the previously unblemished Zach Jackson.  Jackson gave up his first 4 earned runs of the season in 1 inning of work and it was all downhill from there.  Arkansas showed grit, scoring 3 runs in the 9^th down by 11 but it was much too little too late.  Trey Killian made Friday night look like a complete fluke as he shut down the Tide, giving up 1 earned run in a his first win of the season and second complete game in as many starts.  The SEC Pitcher of the Week allowed only 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 7 and also fielded his position in gold glove fashion. 

                The finale on Sunday was very similar to Saturday’s game as Chris Oliver pitched 7 shutout innings, giving up 4 hits and striking out 6.  Oliver was very dominant in an effort to prove he belongs in the weekend rotation.  Michael Gunn earned his third save of the season throwing 2 perfect innings and striking out 3.  Colin Poche and Alex Phillips got the starts again Grambling State with Poche throwing 4 scoreless innings giving up a hit and striking out 3.  Phillips turned in 3 scoreless innings, allowing only 2 hits.  James Teague also threw two perfect innings with 2 strikeouts.

                Arkansas did not show the hitting that I thought it would take to win the series but the back end of the rotation really stepped up and took control of their games.  To be able to shut down this Alabama offense with the hot streak they brought to Fayetteville was a big accomplishment.  Despite winning 5 of their last 6, I still contend that this team is going to have to show more offense before I am confident going into weekend series.  However, pitching is the name of the game these days and as long as they continue to find ways to win games, a baseball team can get by with little offensive output if their pitching staff is good enough.

                The Hogs remain at home this week and play host to Mississippi Valley State for a double header on Tuesday before playing them in North Little Rock on Wednesday.  Then Arkansas travels to Starkville, MS to take on No. 16 Mississippi State who is coming off a series win against No. 7 Vanderbilt.