Road-weary Hogs back at home
FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas Razorbacks are finally playing baseball at Baum Stadium again.
The No. 8 Razorbacks (19-9, 5-4 SEC) play Louisiana-Monroe (15-12, 4-5 Sun Belt Conference) at 6:30 tonight in their first home game since March 17 when they swept a doubleheader from No. 10 Kentucky.
The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville played its previous eight games on the road.
“When you’re away like that, it makes you appreciate playing in your own ballpark and sleeping in your own bed, having your stadium full of fans,” Razorbacks Coach Dave Van Horn said. “I think it’s something the whole team is looking forward to.”
Arkansas played in four different cities while away from home, going 0-1 at North Carolina-Charlotte, 1-2 at No. 2 Florida, 1-0 at Memphis and 1-2 at No. 4 Ole Miss.
“A lot of bonding, a lot of ups and downs,” Van Horn said. “We played a really great schedule.
“I’ve commented a lot about our schedule and the strength of it. I think it’s going to make us a better team at the end of the season, and that’s what we’re working for.”
Jackson Rutledge (2-0), a 6-8 freshman right-hander, will make his first start for Arkansas tonight. He hasn’t allowed an earned run in 92/3 innings over eight relief appearances, including a third of an inning in Ole Miss’ 11-10 victory over the Razorbacks on Saturday when he allowed one hit and an unearned run.
“His velocity was real good, 95, 96 [miles per hour],” Van Horn said of Rutledge’s fastball. “He wasn’t really landing his breaking ball. Wasn’t spinning it like we know he can.
“He needs to get that pitch going a little bit. Hopefully, he’ll go out and give us some good, quality innings.”
Arkansas freshman catcher Casey Opitz will start tonight to give junior Grant Koch a break. It will be the fourth start for Opitz, who in 10 games is batting .235 (4 for 17) with two RBI.
“Casey is a guy that we could tell right when he got on campus in the fall was a better receiver than we thought he was at his age,” Van Horn said. “He can really block and catch. He made borderline pitches look better than they really were. He would hold them in the zone. He just had a knack for that, a good feel.
“I thought I’d probably play him a little bit more, but it just seems with the schedule that we’ve had, there hasn’t been a lot of opportunity to give up Grant’s experience back there.”
Van Horn said it’s possible Opitz also could start against Louisiana-Monroe on Wednesday.
“Casey has been solid,” Van Horn said. “He just keeps working, and he deserves an opportunity to get in there.”
Arkansas beat Louisiana-Monroe 12-3 and 11-3 last season, when the Warhawks finished 12-43.
“Honestly, last year they didn’t have a lot of fight in them,” Van Horn said. “They made a coaching change, and they definitely have a different attitude.”
The Warhawks already have won three more games under new Coach Michael Federico — an assistant at Southern Mississippi previously — than they did all of last season.
In a series against Arkansas State University two weeks ago, Louisiana-Monroe won 2-0, lost 31-7 and won 4-0.
“So that team scares you,” Van Horn said. “I don’t know what I’m getting into here.”
Arkansas junior righthander Jake Reindl (1-1, 6.92) figures to get some work against the Warhawks. He has allowed 21 hits and 6 walks in 13 innings after being one of the Razorbacks’ top relievers last season with a 2.31 ERA in 502/3 innings. Opponents are batting .339 against Reindl this season after he held them to a .212 average a year ago.
“Reindl’s a guy we’ve got to get going,” Van Horn said. “He’s a veteran. He’s been there and done that. It just hasn’t happened for him yet.”
Van Horn said redshirt sophomore right-hander Isaiah Campbell (2-3, 3.33) will be on the roster for this weekend’s series against No. 15 Auburn. He didn’t pitch at Ole
Miss last weekend because of inflammation in his right elbow.
“Isaiah is feeling a lot better,” Van Horn said. “He needed some rest and to get that inflammation down a little bit. He’s been playing catch and throwing off the mound. I think he’s going to throw a bullpen in the next day or two.”
Van Horn said he expects Campbell to be available against Auburn, though his role hasn’t been determined.
“Not sure if he’ll start,” Van Horn said. “But he definitely can give us a couple of innings out of the bullpen at a minimum.”