No. 18 Diamond Hogs face first road test
Matt Watson
Issue date: 3/11/09 Section: Sports
The Arkansas-Centenary baseball series isn't usually considered a heated rivalry, but the Diamond Hogs are carrying a grudge going to Centenary for their first road series of the season.
The two teams split a two-game set in 2008, with the Razorbacks winning easily 9-0 in the first game, but the Gentlemen shut down Arkansas at Baum Stadium in the second game 5-1 - ending a 25-game losing streak to the Razorbacks. The Gents' pitching staff yielded just four hits and held the middle of the lineup to an 0-for-11 mark. Arkansas also made three errors in the field, losing its first non-conference home game after starting 10-0.
"They kicked our butts last year," senior second baseman Ben Tschepikow said. "We need to be ready to play. We need to see what we are made of on the road."
Sophomore Brett Eibner said everybody wants to make up for last year's upset.
"We will look to what we did last weekend (taking two-of-three from California) and put it on them pretty good," Eibner said.
Diamond Hog coach Dave Van Horn said Centenary (5-3) was saving its best pitchers for Arkansas again this year.
The Gents boast a 3.28 team ERA, led by Stephen Tromblee (no earned runs in 7.1 innings pitched) and Boone Whiting (0.84 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 10.2 innings).
"I know they have a couple guys just waiting on us," Van Horn said. "They beat Texas A&M in the second game of the season when (Texas A&M was) ranked No. 1. (Centenary has) won two on the road already. They didn't have any games last weekend. We are it for them for a while. We will get their best shot. And that will be fine. I just really want to get the guys on the road before we open conference play."
The Razorbacks (9-2) open Southeastern Conference play Friday when Florida visits Fayetteville and play their first SEC road series the next weekend.
Arkansas struggled away from Baum Stadium last season, going 8-12 in true road games against a 24-9 record at home.
"We are excited to go on the road. We are not going to really change anything. We are going to play hard. We are going to have the same mindset to pitch well, play some good defense and hit the ball, as well. I think it could bring us together as a team," senior outfielder Chase Leavitt said.
Leavitt, the reigning SEC Player of the Week, leads Arkansas with a .419 batting average. Sophomore Andy Wilkins has a team-high four home runs and 13 RBIs.
Centenary is led offensively by Ricky Imperiali (.414 average, 2 home runs) and Michael Tompkins (.276 average, 2 home runs and 8 RBIs).
Arkansas will play the second game of the two-game series 2 p.m. today at Sheehee Stadium in Shreveport, La.
The two teams split a two-game set in 2008, with the Razorbacks winning easily 9-0 in the first game, but the Gentlemen shut down Arkansas at Baum Stadium in the second game 5-1 - ending a 25-game losing streak to the Razorbacks. The Gents' pitching staff yielded just four hits and held the middle of the lineup to an 0-for-11 mark. Arkansas also made three errors in the field, losing its first non-conference home game after starting 10-0.
"They kicked our butts last year," senior second baseman Ben Tschepikow said. "We need to be ready to play. We need to see what we are made of on the road."
Sophomore Brett Eibner said everybody wants to make up for last year's upset.
"We will look to what we did last weekend (taking two-of-three from California) and put it on them pretty good," Eibner said.
Diamond Hog coach Dave Van Horn said Centenary (5-3) was saving its best pitchers for Arkansas again this year.
The Gents boast a 3.28 team ERA, led by Stephen Tromblee (no earned runs in 7.1 innings pitched) and Boone Whiting (0.84 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 10.2 innings).
"I know they have a couple guys just waiting on us," Van Horn said. "They beat Texas A&M in the second game of the season when (Texas A&M was) ranked No. 1. (Centenary has) won two on the road already. They didn't have any games last weekend. We are it for them for a while. We will get their best shot. And that will be fine. I just really want to get the guys on the road before we open conference play."
The Razorbacks (9-2) open Southeastern Conference play Friday when Florida visits Fayetteville and play their first SEC road series the next weekend.
Arkansas struggled away from Baum Stadium last season, going 8-12 in true road games against a 24-9 record at home.
"We are excited to go on the road. We are not going to really change anything. We are going to play hard. We are going to have the same mindset to pitch well, play some good defense and hit the ball, as well. I think it could bring us together as a team," senior outfielder Chase Leavitt said.
Leavitt, the reigning SEC Player of the Week, leads Arkansas with a .419 batting average. Sophomore Andy Wilkins has a team-high four home runs and 13 RBIs.
Centenary is led offensively by Ricky Imperiali (.414 average, 2 home runs) and Michael Tompkins (.276 average, 2 home runs and 8 RBIs).
Arkansas will play the second game of the two-game series 2 p.m. today at Sheehee Stadium in Shreveport, La.
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