The Traveler

Issue date: 3/30/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Jonathan Gibson Sophomore Travis Sample is tagged out at a close call at the plate. Arkansas went on to win 5-1 in the first game Sunday.

It took two days to play one game, but the No. 14 Arkansas Razorback baseball team took its third straight Southeastern Conference series to start the season over Mississippi State.

Starter T.J. Forrest (2-1) allowed one earned run while striking out four to secure a 5-1 win in the first game of the double header Sunday.

The team improved upon its best start in SEC history after winning the first game of the series Saturday, 20-9.

"Our team is playing really well right now," Forrest said. "And I don't think we even showed our bats Saturday like we have been. As long as the pitching can keep it going with the hitting, we will do really well in conference."

Forrest left the game with two runners stranded, but Mike Bolsinger entered the game and kept the Bulldogs scoreless.

"That was my ERA sitting out there on those bases," Forrest said. "He came in there and made a great pitch to get the double play. He showed he can come in during clutch situations and get people out."

In the first inning Friday, senior Scott Lyons provided the team with the first run of the game with his first career home run.

"When he hit the ball, I was just hoping the centerfielder wasn't going to catch it," Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said. "But it kept going and going. It kind of shocked me. We knew he would hit one some day."

Van Horn joked that Lyons didn't have to worry about hitting anymore.

Arkansas led 10-3 in the bottom of the fifth Friday, but the game was halted because of heavy rain. It didn't take long for the Razorbacks to resume scoring, as they scored nine runs in the fifth and sixth inning.

But as snow fell during the game, six errors were committed Saturday by both teams.

"There were some balls that were booted and balls were slipping out of hands when they were trying to grip," Van Horn said. "It just got worse as the game went on. And it was just worse in the late innings."

Redshirt sophomore Travis Sample helped lead the team through the first two games, finishing 3-for-6 with four runs, one home run and five RBIs.

"He brings a presence in the middle of the batting order," Van Horn said. "He can change the game pretty quick. The home run he hits was against the wind. If he can get it going and be hot here and there, he can really carry us some weekends."

Continued...

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