Hogs to host Tigers
FAYETTEVILLE - Fresh off a SEC weekend series sweep of the Auburn Tigers at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Coach Dave Van Horn takes his nationally third-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks tonight into their annual game at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock.
At 6:30 p.m. on the Razorbacks’ radio network, Arkansas 24-9, hosts the Grambling State Tigers,16-16, of the SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference).
Weather permitting, the Razorbacks’ always attract a big crowd in their annual Central Arkansas visit to the home of the Arkansas Travelers.
“We look forward to going down there every year,” Van Horn said Sunday after the Razorbacks’ 5-4 victory completed their 2-1 and 13-2 Friday and Saturday sweep of the Auburn Tigers. “It’s a good crowd. it’s a lot of fans from Central Arkansas that maybe can’t get up here or maybe can get up here one time a year or something. Hopefully the weather will be good for us.”
With the South Carolina Gamecocks looming Thursday, Friday and Saturday in a 3-game SEC series at Baum, Van Horn said he’s leaving Blaine Knight, Kacey Murphy and Isaiah Campbell, his three starting pitchers against Auburn and projected to start against South Carolina, at home. Also Jake Reindl, throwing seven innings of winning relief Sunday, will rest his arm for the SEC series. Lefty Matt Cronin, saving Knight’s Friday night victory over Auburn,
Freshman right-hander Caleb Bolden, 3-0, with a 2.61 earned run average coming off a strong seven innings beating LouisianaMonroe last Wednesday at Baum, starts tonight for Arkansas.
Arkansas could use five to seven innings from Bolden tonight but Van Horn also would like to work in regular relievers Jackson Rutledge, Kole Ramage and Cody Scroggins who did not pitch against Auburn.
Grambling bats. .287 and is led by shortstop Marshawn Taylor, .408 batting average and 28 RBI, designated hitter Rafael Ramirez III, batting .349 with 7 home runs and 28 RBI, and catcher Richard Ortiz .330, 9 home runs and 38 RBI.
Freshman left fielder
Heston Kjerstad, singling home Sunday’s game-winner in the ninth after starting 0 for 4 with three strikeouts, leads Arkansas with a .374 batting average and 8 home runs and 31 RBI, followed by senior second baseman Carson Shaddy, .364, 7 home runs and 26 RBI, right fielder Eric Cole, .348 with seven home runs and 24 RBI and freshman third baseman Casey Martin of Lonoke, .324 with 7 home runs and 28 RBI.
The Razorbacks used Monday as their NCAA mandated off day so just have tonight’s game and a Wednesday practice before South Carolina comes to Baum.
“We get on a bus on Tuesday and they’ll probably start to think about the game on the ride down there,” Van Horn said. “I’ll mix it up a little bit, but I’lll still play a lot of the starters. Every game is important from here on out.. We’ll try to play another good ball game, then obviously on the way back we start getting our mind on South Carolina.”