Slide was aggressive, enjoyable

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas freshman Dominic Fletcher said he did what he had to do on the slide that toppled LSU second baseman Cole Freeman in the fourth inning of Sunday’s championship game of the SEC Tournament in Hoover Ala.

Freeman landed on his head on the slide, which broke up a potential double play, and caused some LSU players to take exception and start a jawing match, which never escalated beyond words.

Fletcher said he and Freeman talked it out during the game, which LSU won 4- 2.

“I talked to him after, when I hit a double in like the eighth inning,” Fletcher said. “I told him there was pretty much no other option. I had to go straight in. The throw pulled him into the baseline, and there was nothing else I could do.

“I was just trying to be aggressive. I went in hard and whatever happens, happens.”

During postgame interviews, Freeman said the slide was clean and Fletcher did what he was supposed to do.

LSU fans chanted, “Throw him out! Throw him out!” during a delay in the game as umpires huddled to discuss the play.

“It was pretty cool, honestly,” Fletcher said. “I kind of felt like A- Rod [ former major- leaguer Alex Rodriguez] when he was playing at Boston. It was pretty cool. I kind of enjoyed it, actually.”

Fletcher said he was looking forward to the Razorbacks’ series in Baton Rouge next season.

“I like a good rivalry like that,” he said. “It’ll definitely keep things interesting.”