Razorbacks, Red Raiders run it back
The second game of a midweek series between Arkansas and Texas Tech was canceled because of foul weather on April 25 at Baum Stadium.
If you want to call their matchup today at the College World Series a makeup game, Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn and Texas Tech coach Tim Tadlock said they cannot think of a better place to make it up than Omaha, Neb. For as much as the Razorbacks (45-19) love playing in Fayetteville, they would rather play where they are tonight, TD Ameritrade Park Omaha in the second-round winner’s bracket of the College World Series.
They are scheduled to meet the Red Raiders (45-18) at 6 p.m. with the game on ESPN (Resort Channel 30). Their game will follow the 1 p.m. loser’s bracket game between Texas (42-22) and Florida (47-20).
The Razorbacks trounced the Longhorns, 11-5, in the first round on Sunday. A rain delay pushed the night game, with the Red Raiders prevailing, 6-3, over the Gators around the midnight hour.
Tonight’s winner will perch in the great spot of advancing to Friday against the survivor of Thursday’s matchup in the loser’s bracket. The winner of the bracket will meet the survivor from the other bracket in the national championship series to begin on Monday.
Arkansas beat Texas Tech, 5-1, on April 24, which commenced the season’s emergence of junior right-hander Barrett Loseke (3-2,
3.04 ERA). He struggled at the season’s outset, but closed the final
4 2/3 hitless innings in the victory against the Red Raiders on behalf of winning middle reliever Evan Lee (4-3, 5.00).
“He pitched great that day,” Van Horn recalled Monday before the Razorbacks practiced in Omaha. “To me, that’s really where I think everybody gained a lot of confidence in him. The coaches saw what he could do, the players saw what he could do. That’s what we thought he could do. Ever since then, he’s helped solidify our pitching staff.”
From there, Loseke has mostly pitched superbly to join sophomore left-hander Matt Cronin (2-1, 2.98) and junior right-hander Jake Reindl (3-1, 2.96) in a superb three-armed bullpen. Cronin leads the team with 12 saves; Reindl has three. Loseke and Reindl were taken in back-to-back selections in this month’s Major League Baseball Draft.
Loseke threw 38 pitches in 1 2/3 innings of relief for winning junior right-hand starter Blaine Knight (13-0, 2.8) Sunday against Texas. Look for Reindl or Cronin in relief tonight whenever junior left-hander Kacey Murphy (8-5, 3.12) may need it.
“Pretty good shape after the first day,” Van Horn said of his pitching staff. “Bottom line, we just needed to win the game and then see what you got and try to line it up as best as you can. Not
your typical team that we’re facing. This team is very offensive.”
Third baseman Josh Lung, left fielder Grant Little, second baseman Gabe Holt and designated hitter Zach Rheams appear to be more “Red Rippers” than Red Raiders. Lung is hitting .390 this season with 12 home runs and 78 RBIs; Little, .380, 12 home runs, 74 RBIs; Holt, .352; Rheams, .346, 17 home runs, 50 RBIs.
And they continued their stellar season Sunday against one of the most esteemed pitchers in the college game, Florida ace Brady Singer (12-2, 2.33)
“As far as talent wise, you look at the preseason projections and polls and they were in the top three in most every poll,” Van Horn said. “So, they’re exactly where I thought they would be, in Omaha with a great team.”
Murphy has mostly pitched well this season, but absorbed a loss his last outing, the 8-5 Fayetteville Super Regional loss to South Carolina (37-26) June 10 at Baum Stadium. Arkansas won, 9-3, the day before and, 14-4, the night after his loss.
“I think he’ll bounce back,” Van Horn said. “He’s going to face one of the toughest offenses in Division I baseball in Texas Tech. Their offense is loaded with really strong type hitters, guys who can hit the ball over your head. A couple of guys who can really run.
“He’s going to have to pitch extremely well. We’ll try to make sure we’ve got guys ready in the bullpen, because I feel like it’ll take four or five guys to try to handle them.”
Of course, against Arkansas’ ample attack, Tadlock likely prepares for multiple pitchers. Among them are Fort Smith Southside alum Ty Harpenau (7-2, 3.38), who worked 40 pitches through 2 2/3 innings against Florida Sunday night to earn a save for middle reliever Ryan Shetter (6-0, 2.97).
The Razorbacks have hit a school-record 95 home runs, including a big two-run shot by senior designated hitter Luke Bonfield to put Arkansas up, 3-2, in the fifth inning Sunday against Texas. It was six singles, three walks and a hit batsman that triggered Arkansas’ eight-run sixth inning to pull away.
“I really like singles,” Van Horn said Monday. “Singles make for big innings, but to have a big inning like that, you have to draw some walks or they have to make an error or two. That’s how you put up the socalled crooked number.”