By Otis Kirk
FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas withstood an early threat from Santa Clara to take a 13-6 victory on Friday afternoon before 11,078 fans at Baum-Walker Stadium in the Fayetteville Regional.
Santa Clara held a 2-0 lead after four batters in the top of the first and were hitting Arkansas starter Hunter Hollan pretty hard. Dave Van Horn pulled Hollan after just 2.1 innings and 49 pitches.
"Santa Clara came out and they came out swinging," Van Horn said. "Jumped on us quick after their first hitter made an out. A couple singles and a double and we found ourselves down two runs. I think it might’ve been, it was either the third or fourth inning when Peyton Holt got up pretty good and robbed that base hit there with two outs. It kept them off the board again and we slowly started flipping the momentum.
"I felt like they were on Hunter Hollan pretty good. He was mixing, throwing strikes, but they just fouled a lot of pitches off and did a great job and got his pitch count up. We just felt like we needed to go right-handed against them. Feel very fortunate to put together that big inning. We did a great job of fouling off pitches, taking walks. Finally had a couple of balls find some holes, because we did hit some balls hard early that didn’t. I think we just kind of relaxed a little bit."
Obviously Santa Clara coach Rusty Filter felt good about the start, but watched his pitching staff give up 10 walks. The Broncos actually outhit the Hogs 13-10, but the free passes proved to be the difference.
"I think things started out very well," Filter said. "I think our first three batters we had two runs on the board, runner at second base. We were able to chase their starter by the third inning. I don’t think we had given up a hit going into the fourth, then I think things kind of fell apart for us on the mound. I can’t remember the last time we walked 10 batters and hit two. Very uncharacteristic of our club."
The Hogs took a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth. With one out Jared Wegner singled. Parker Rowland followed with a single. John Bolton hit a sacrifice fly to center field that plated Wegner who had gone to third on Rowland's hit. Tavian Josenberger then singled and Holt walked. Kendall Diggs then singled to center field that cleared the bases with the runners going on contact since two outs.
Santa Clara added a run in the top of the fifth to pull within 5-3. The Hogs then scored five more in the bottom of the sixth. The big hit in the inning was a home run by Josenberger. Caleb Cali hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth.
Santa Clara added two runs in the top of the eighth including a solo home run by Eamonn Lance. They also plated one in the top of the ninth.
Will McEntire came in after Hollan. McEntire (8-3) got the win working 5.0 innings allowing eight hits, three runs, walking one and striking out two. Cody Adcock finished up for Arkansas. Former Bryant standout McEntire talked about his mission entering the game so early.
"The mission was just keep it where it was and let our offense get going," McEntire said. "Once our offense did get going and we got that lead, just eat up innings and pass it on to the next guy to finish off the game."
The Razorbacks had most of the fans at the game, but one Santa Clara booster probably felt it was a nice consolation to see the Hogs win.
"Pat Filter is my mother," Filter said. "She lives in Harrison, Arkansas. Her and my father were there. My father passed away about three years ago, worked on a cattle farm there. So we’re pretty familiar with the people in these parts. I didn’t tell you all that early on. But it’s really nice to have my mom come to the game.
"Obviously she is a Rusty Filter fan first - she loves her Hogs, man. She loves football, she loves baseball. She’s all about it. So I think it it was nice for her, wanted us to win but just a great experience and thanks for bringing that up. Just a special moment for me."
Arkansas (42-16) will face the TCU-Arizona winner on Saturday night at 8 p.m.
The winner of the Fayetteville Regional will oppose the winner of the Terre Haute Regional hosted by Indiana State in the super regional.
NCAA Fayetteville Regional
Friday, June 2
Game 1 – Arkansas 13 vs. Santa Clara 6 – 2 p.m. (ESPN+)
Game 2 – TCU vs. Arizona – 8 p.m. (ESPNU)
Saturday, June 3
Game 3 – Santa Clara vs. Game 2 Loser – 2 p.m.
Game 4 – Arkansas vs. Game 2 Winner – 8 p.m.
Sunday, June 4
Game 5 – Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Loser – 2 p.m.
Game 6 – Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner – 8 p.m.
Monday, June 5 (If Necessary)
Game 7 – If the Game 5 Winner Wins Game 6 – TBD
