Two at the top
Leavitt, Lyons lead Diamond Hogs
Harold McIlvain II
Issue date: 4/22/09 Section: Sports
|
More often than not, seniors Chase Leavitt and Scott Lyons are atop the batting order for Arkansas.
And for good reason.
The duo has helped spark the Razorback offense by combining for a .318 average with 38 runs, four home runs, 50 RBIs and 38 walks in 255 plate appearances.
Lyons, who prides himself on the ability to bunt and play small ball, can move a runner over. But this season he has used his bat to drive runners home.
"For the No. 2 hitter, Lyons has a lot of RBIs," Van Horn said. "He is right up there with our three and four hole hitters."
Lyons - who is one RBI shy of the team leader - has proved he can do more than just score runs for Arkansas.
"A lot of the times the two hole is moving runners around by sacrificing," Van Horn said. "They usually doesn't drive in many runs. But when Lyons has had opportunities to drive people in, he has usually come through."
Leavitt said having Lyons bat behind him in the lineup has helped him throughout the season.
"He is having a great year," Leavitt said. "Scott is swinging it well. It is great to have a great hitter behind me to move me over or score me if he hits one in the gap."
Wanting to improve on his 0-for-20 start to the season last year, Lyons rededicated himself in the weight room during the summer to become a better player.
"He got stronger and it is really paying off," Van Horn said. "He stayed all summer and really, really worked on his body."
After finishing the weekend against Georgia 0-for-13, Lyons will look to regain confidence on the road against Tennessee this weekend.
"He has been a little frustrated," Leavitt said. "But it is good to see him have a positive attitude and stay in there. He is having a great season."
Arkansas avoided the sweep against Georgia on Sunday when Leavitt, who ranks third in the conference with a .493 on base percentage, drove in both runs during a 2-0 win.
But despite being atop the lineup, Lyons and Leavitt have shown the ability hit a few home runs.
In a 10-9 win over Louisiana-Monroe last week, Leavitt and Lyons both left the yard.
Stepping to the plate in the 10th inning with a runner on base, Lyons said he wanted to just keep the inning alive and move the runner over.
Be the first to comment on this story