Diamond Hogs drop first SEC series
Harold McIlvain II
Issue date: 4/13/09 Section: Sports
But Wilkins said it was too late for a comeback.
"Getting the runs were nice," Wilkins said. "But if we took away some of the their runs, it would be a completely different ball game. We didn't play good defense, and it costs us it the long run."
Van Horn said before the series that Vanderbilt had a talented starter in Mike Minor.
And Minor showed his talents Friday during a 9-0 win - pitching eight scoreless innings while allowing four hits and striking out 11.
"I felt pretty good early," Minor said. "I love this atmosphere and coming out and competing against the No. 1 team in the country. This win was huge and it helps boost our confidence."
Van Horn said Minor had four pitches going and was tough throughout the night.
"Being down a couple of runs, we thought we were still in the game," Van Horn said. "But he was on fire."
Senior Ben Tschepikow said he had never faced back-to-back starters with that much talent before. But he said that wasn't an excuse for the poor hitting from Arkansas.
"They threw well," Tschepikow said. "But we are good enough to beat those guys. It's baseball. Hopefully we can see them down the road."
Arkansas ace Dallas Keuchel lost his first game of the season Friday when he allowed 10 hits and seven earned runs in 3.1 innings.
"Dallas wasn't sharp," Van Horn said. "He just wasn't locating very well. He was leaving his fast ball up. But it happens. They did a good job offensively."
Arkansas finished the game with four hits and four errors.
"We didn't play very good defense," Van Horn said. "We were behind and probably a little frustrated. But it really all started with them on the mound."
Van Horn said the Friday loss didn't feel like it was a let down at all.
"We just got it handed to us by a great pitcher that they thought would throw like this all year," Van Horn said. "Coach Corbin said that was the best he has pitched all year."
With a midweek series against Louisiana-Monroe at Baum Stadium on Tuesday and Wednesday, Tschepikow said the team would be ready to bounce back.
"We just got our butts handed to us twice," Tschepikow said "We have said all year good teams don't lose back to back. It's the first time it has happened to us. We'll see how we respond after that."
"Getting the runs were nice," Wilkins said. "But if we took away some of the their runs, it would be a completely different ball game. We didn't play good defense, and it costs us it the long run."
Van Horn said before the series that Vanderbilt had a talented starter in Mike Minor.
And Minor showed his talents Friday during a 9-0 win - pitching eight scoreless innings while allowing four hits and striking out 11.
"I felt pretty good early," Minor said. "I love this atmosphere and coming out and competing against the No. 1 team in the country. This win was huge and it helps boost our confidence."
Van Horn said Minor had four pitches going and was tough throughout the night.
"Being down a couple of runs, we thought we were still in the game," Van Horn said. "But he was on fire."
Senior Ben Tschepikow said he had never faced back-to-back starters with that much talent before. But he said that wasn't an excuse for the poor hitting from Arkansas.
"They threw well," Tschepikow said. "But we are good enough to beat those guys. It's baseball. Hopefully we can see them down the road."
Arkansas ace Dallas Keuchel lost his first game of the season Friday when he allowed 10 hits and seven earned runs in 3.1 innings.
"Dallas wasn't sharp," Van Horn said. "He just wasn't locating very well. He was leaving his fast ball up. But it happens. They did a good job offensively."
Arkansas finished the game with four hits and four errors.
"We didn't play very good defense," Van Horn said. "We were behind and probably a little frustrated. But it really all started with them on the mound."
Van Horn said the Friday loss didn't feel like it was a let down at all.
"We just got it handed to us by a great pitcher that they thought would throw like this all year," Van Horn said. "Coach Corbin said that was the best he has pitched all year."
With a midweek series against Louisiana-Monroe at Baum Stadium on Tuesday and Wednesday, Tschepikow said the team would be ready to bounce back.
"We just got our butts handed to us twice," Tschepikow said "We have said all year good teams don't lose back to back. It's the first time it has happened to us. We'll see how we respond after that."
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