FAYETTEVILLE -- No. 5 Arkansas completed a four-game sweep with a 12-2 victory over Washington State on Monday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium in front of 8,780 fans.
It was the second seven-inning, run-rule win for Arkansas in the series. The game didn't start out that way though as the Razorbacks came to bat in the bottom of the fourth with the game still scoreless. However, designated hitter Kuhio Aloy started the scoring with a solo home run over the fence in left field. It was his second home run in as many games. The Hogs scored five runs in the fourth, six in the fifth and one more in the sixth. Dave Van Horn liked what he saw from his team and starting pitcher Landon Beidelschies
"Just another good start," Van Horn said. "Four in a row. Five innings. I think Landon pitched outstanding. I think he got a little tired there in the fifth. I mean, between the early in the season and the temperatures, what more could we ask from our pitchers? I think we walked five on the weekend. Maybe hit a couple, so we didn’t give them much. Just a super job there.
"Good job by the offense kicking into gear there in the middle of the game. Put a lot of pressure. Strung together some hits. Got some walks. I mean, we took advantage of 11 walks today. They hadn’t walked us, really, the first three games. I think they got a little short on their pitching, and we did what we needed to do. I’m glad we got the game in. We had a couple more guys we really wanted to throw. Cole Gibler got to come in to pitch an inning. I would have liked to see (Ben) Bybee, maybe another inning. Maybe had a guy or two down there that we were, you know, Colin Fisher jumps out at me. He was a guy we really wanted to get an inning. Been throwing the ball pretty good, but he’ll get some time here shortly. So, it was a really good weekend for us."
Beidelschies was indeed impressive in his five innings of work. He allowed four hits, one run (earned), walked a hitter and struck out seven. Bybee and Gibler completed the game pitching one inning each finishing a very good weekend for the Arkansas bullpen.
Kuhio Aloy and right fielder Carson Boles are both newcomers. Boles had two hits and plated a pair of runs getting the start. Van Horn was impressed with both.
"Good to see those guys come through," Van Horn said. "You know, they started a lefty, and he lasted for two hitters. I started a couple of right-handers because of that. Just left them in there, and those two guys got hit. That was really good to see. Just to see Boles square up a couple of balls, I think three at-bats, he hit the ball hard. Just had a good outing. Played well in the outfield. Cut a ball off in the alley. Had a chance to rest some guys, too. Get some other guys some experience. We’re going to need them all."
Going into the season it was figured sophomore Nolan Souza would be the everyday second baseman. But Vanderbilt transfer Cam Kozeal started Monday and had one hit. He also played well in the first game on Saturday while Souza struggled at the plate this weekend. Kozeal also played well in the field making two outstanding plays on Monday. Van Horn was asked on Monday if this makes writing out the lineup more difficult?
"Yeah, it makes it more difficult," Van Horn said. "You know, because you want to play the hot guy, or the guy that’s deserving. Sometimes you give up some offense for some defense, especially when you have some really good arms going. So we’ll make those decisions. Depends on where you’re at. What’s the weather like? Is it a big outfield, or is the wind blowing in? You just have to look at everything, but I always tell the guys, ‘man, you’ve got to be able to play some defense. It makes it a lot easier to write your name in the lineup’. There’s one DH, and a lot of times, if you’re more of an offensive guy or just not a great defender, the ball’s going to find you. That’ll be our battle, a little bit. Just continue to get better on the defensive side."
The run rule on Monday and the 14-2 victory on Saturday both came when Van Horn started some of the reserves. The other two games with the lineup from opening day resulted in 3-2 and 5-2 wins.
"That’s exactly what happened," Van Horn said. "We’ve told the guys all along, this is the way we start, doesn’t means that’s the way it’s going to be all the time. You’ve got to keep working and earn your position. It does have some… I think the competition amongst the players is good, it’s healthy. Obviously everybody wants to play. You can’t play them all. I try to move them in and out of the lineup as best we can. Obviously we’ll settle in on something and it might be a little bit different off a left-handed pitcher. But usually your starters are going to be about seven of them and two might flip a little bit with a right- or left-handed pitcher. But it definitely keeps everybody on their toes and everybody working. That’s what goes on with our pitching staff all the time. Those guys are competing against each other and it makes them better when they get on the field competing against somebody else."
Boles and Wehiwa Aloy each had two hits on Monday. Those two plus third baseman Brent Iredale and center fielder Charles Davalan each plated two runners.
Washington State used five pitchers on the day. Starter Jake Robinson only lasted two hitters. He allowed a hit and walked one. The third pitcher on the day Bryce Chambers took the loss. Chambers worked one inning and allowed the home run to Kuhio Aloy which was the only blast that left the park Monday. He allowed four hits, walked three and surrendered six runs. On the day the Washington State pitchers gave up 11 walks.
Arkansas (4-0) will now head to Arlington for three games in the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field. On Friday, Arkansas will face Kansas State at 7 p.m. Saturday they tangle with No. 22 TCU at 6 p.m. Sunday's final game will be at 11 a.m. against Michigan. The next home game will be Tuesday, Feb. 25, against Grambling at 3 p.m. That game can be seen on the SEC Network+.
photo: Craven Whitlow