One got away, but the other didn’t

FAYETTEVILLE — Going into their Friday night SEC Baseball Tournament rematch with the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the losers bracket, the Razorbacks’ Thursday doubleheader debut into the 2017 double elimination tournament in Hoover, Ala., will be doubly remembered decidedly differently.

The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville’s 4-3 first-round loss to Mississippi State will be ruefully remembered as the game that got away.

Arkansas led 3-0. The Hogs lost on three Bulldogs’ defensive gems, a ninth-inning bullpen meltdown and an eighth-inning unearned run with two Hogs erring on the same play.

Thursday night’s losers bracket 12-0 triumph over Auburn, stopped by the 10-run rule after seven innings, is remembered for its records.

Chad Spanberger set SEC Tournament records hitting three home runs with seven RBI.

Pitchers Dominic Taccolini, Matt Cronin and Josh Alberius combined for the first-ever SEC Tournament no-hitter.

Possibly vital to next week’s NCAA regional, Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn rediscovered two third basemen after wondering if he had any.

Jared Gates, a hard hitter earlier but slumping lately, was replaced against Mississippi State by freshman Jack Kenley, a better defender but 0 for 19.

Kenley delivered a RBI double to deep center..

Gates started against Auburn 1 for 3 with a RBI.

TIME TO SERVE PETER DOOHAN

Peter Doohan, the Australian who become a University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor men’s tennis great, needs all the encouragement that all with ties to UA tennis can muster, former Razorbacks tennis Coach Robert Cox writes.

Doohan and Pat Serret made UA history winning the 1982 NCAA men’s doubles championship for former Coach Tom Pucci’s Razorbacks. Doohan then taught tennis in Arkansas after an pro career including an upset of three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker.

Cox, a former Razorback under Pucci and Arkansas’ coach for 26 years before going into administration, said Doohan reports from Australia on his worsening struggle with recently diagnosed ALS.

So Cox and Simon Robinson, a former Razorbacks tennis letterman from Australia who is a long-time resident of Northwest Arkansas, urge all knowing Doohan from his Razorbacks days to email encouragement and otherwise show support.

“At this time, Peter is becoming immobilized and is losing his speech, but his mind is sharp!” Cox wrote. “Let’s show Peter the Razorback tennis community is with him!

“Write him an email to express your support and prayers for him and his family. Peter’s sister, Cathie, says he loves reading the emails that come from friends around the world.

“Simon Robinson is going to Sydney, Australia, to see Peter in early June. If you have a story, memory, news clipping, photo or anything else you believe he and his family would enjoy, please send a copy/ scan or mail to Simon before June 5. Simon will gather all correspondence and assemble a “Doo” scrapbook to deliver personally.

“Please show your support to one of, if not the greatest, Hog tennis player ever!”

Doohan’s email is peterprodoo@ yahoo.com.

Robinson’s email is simon@ readyflow.com.