Darr leads Diamond Hogs' sweep
Harold McIlvain II
Issue date: 2/23/09 Section: Sports
Senior second baseman Ben Tschepikow said he had never seen anything like it. Arkansas was hitting home runs left and right in practice. And it didn't even matter if the wind was blowing inward.
Tschepikow said he was excited to see what the team could do at the plate with the home run ability when the real games started.
And nothing changed.
The Razorbacks were able to use a couple of home runs in a doubleheader sweep to lift them past Washington State Friday.
Senior outfielder Andrew Darr made the biggest impact for Arkansas in the second game.
But he didn't even start the game on the field. After entering the game as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning, Darr made up for a strike out in his first chance at the plate by taking away and hitting a home run.
With the game in extra innings, Darr robbed a home run away and then hit a game-winning home run to secure the sweep, 7-5.
"[Center fielder] Brett [Eibner] was screaming track, track and find the wall," Darr said. "I did get to the wall and then found it. I think my wrist was even with the top of the ball, so it might have been just a little bit over."
Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said Darr did a good job handling the pitch and putting it over the fence.
"The lefthander got him with the first curve," Van Horn said. "He hung the second pitch curve a little. We all know how hard Andrew can hit one. We all knew it was out as soon as it hit the bat."
Sophomore first baseman Andy Wilkins put Arkansas up early with a 2-0 after a home run, driving in freshman Zack Cox.
Darr was able to help the team win 4-3 in the ninth inning Sunday when he laid down a bunt for a single that scored the winning run. The pitcher had a glove on the ball, but it bounced out as he came to the ground.
"When I looked over, it looked like he over-dove and his glove got caught," Darr said. "The ground caused a fumble there."
Tschepikow showed power of his own in the first game with a first pitch two-run home run in the fourth that gave Arkansas a 4-2 lead the team wouldn't relinquish. The fifth-year player made it five straight years with at least a home run.
Tschepikow said he was excited to see what the team could do at the plate with the home run ability when the real games started.
And nothing changed.
The Razorbacks were able to use a couple of home runs in a doubleheader sweep to lift them past Washington State Friday.
Senior outfielder Andrew Darr made the biggest impact for Arkansas in the second game.
But he didn't even start the game on the field. After entering the game as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning, Darr made up for a strike out in his first chance at the plate by taking away and hitting a home run.
With the game in extra innings, Darr robbed a home run away and then hit a game-winning home run to secure the sweep, 7-5.
"[Center fielder] Brett [Eibner] was screaming track, track and find the wall," Darr said. "I did get to the wall and then found it. I think my wrist was even with the top of the ball, so it might have been just a little bit over."
Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said Darr did a good job handling the pitch and putting it over the fence.
"The lefthander got him with the first curve," Van Horn said. "He hung the second pitch curve a little. We all know how hard Andrew can hit one. We all knew it was out as soon as it hit the bat."
Sophomore first baseman Andy Wilkins put Arkansas up early with a 2-0 after a home run, driving in freshman Zack Cox.
Darr was able to help the team win 4-3 in the ninth inning Sunday when he laid down a bunt for a single that scored the winning run. The pitcher had a glove on the ball, but it bounced out as he came to the ground.
"When I looked over, it looked like he over-dove and his glove got caught," Darr said. "The ground caused a fumble there."
Tschepikow showed power of his own in the first game with a first pitch two-run home run in the fourth that gave Arkansas a 4-2 lead the team wouldn't relinquish. The fifth-year player made it five straight years with at least a home run.
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