Conference collision course
Harold McIlvain II
Issue date: 4/17/09 Section: Sports
After feeling like the team didn't have its normal attitude during a Tuesday loss, Arkansas baseball head coach Dave Van Horn made it clear to the Razorbacks they are never out of a game.
Apparently, the message went through loud and clear.
After being down 4-1, No. 11 Arkansas fought back Wednesday to take a 5-4 lead over Louisiana-Monroe. Arkansas then allowed an unearned run in the ninth inning to tie the game.
But the Razorbacks didn't give up. Senior shortstop Scott Lyons belted his third home run of the season to win the game 10-9 in the bottom of the 10th inning.
"It seemed like guys didn't know if we could come back (on Tuesday), and that was disappointing" Van Horn said. "We emphasized that the next night - and maybe too much. But we didn't quit (on Wednesday). We were down to our last outs."
Van Horn said it was a win the team needed heading back into Southeastern Conference play against No. 8 Georgia (29-7, 11-4 SEC).
"If you have ever been apart of a team and you have to travel as far as Georgia, it wouldn't have been a fun trip," Van Horn said. "They can relax now, take a deep breath and get ready to get back into it in the SEC and play better."
Georgia, who lost to Fresno State last year in the College World Series, is a team that ranks in the top three in the SEC in batting average, runs scored, RBIs and walks.
"They are a strong, physical team," Van Horn said. "They swing it good and score a lot of runs."
Although the Bulldogs can open big innings offensively, the pitching staff, which has a conference-best 3.59 ERA, is capable of shutting down opponents, too.
"They have a lot of good arms - big kids that throw hard," Van Horn said. "They come at you and say, 'here you go, hit it.'"
Because of the increased velocity the Razorbacks will face, Van Horn said Arkansas has been taking fastballs off geared up pitching machines.
"We have to be ready for the fastball," Van Horn said. "We were working on that Monday and Tuesday almost too much. But hitting velocity is what we will have to do this weekend."
Apparently, the message went through loud and clear.
After being down 4-1, No. 11 Arkansas fought back Wednesday to take a 5-4 lead over Louisiana-Monroe. Arkansas then allowed an unearned run in the ninth inning to tie the game.
But the Razorbacks didn't give up. Senior shortstop Scott Lyons belted his third home run of the season to win the game 10-9 in the bottom of the 10th inning.
"It seemed like guys didn't know if we could come back (on Tuesday), and that was disappointing" Van Horn said. "We emphasized that the next night - and maybe too much. But we didn't quit (on Wednesday). We were down to our last outs."
Van Horn said it was a win the team needed heading back into Southeastern Conference play against No. 8 Georgia (29-7, 11-4 SEC).
"If you have ever been apart of a team and you have to travel as far as Georgia, it wouldn't have been a fun trip," Van Horn said. "They can relax now, take a deep breath and get ready to get back into it in the SEC and play better."
Georgia, who lost to Fresno State last year in the College World Series, is a team that ranks in the top three in the SEC in batting average, runs scored, RBIs and walks.
"They are a strong, physical team," Van Horn said. "They swing it good and score a lot of runs."
Although the Bulldogs can open big innings offensively, the pitching staff, which has a conference-best 3.59 ERA, is capable of shutting down opponents, too.
"They have a lot of good arms - big kids that throw hard," Van Horn said. "They come at you and say, 'here you go, hit it.'"
Because of the increased velocity the Razorbacks will face, Van Horn said Arkansas has been taking fastballs off geared up pitching machines.
"We have to be ready for the fastball," Van Horn said. "We were working on that Monday and Tuesday almost too much. But hitting velocity is what we will have to do this weekend."
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