Diamond Hogs take series from Tennessee
Harold McIlvain II
Issue date: 4/27/09 Section: Sports
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"It was such a disappointing finish," Van Horn said. "I told the team if you've played this game long enough, you'll see some crazy finishes. We wish we were on the other side of it."
Arkansas turned things around and was on the other side during a 15-8 win Sunday in a curfew shortened eight-inning game.
Arkansas fell behind early when starter Drew Smyly couldn't get out of the first inning after allowing a three-run home run.
The Razorbacks fought back with home runs by Andy Wilkins, Brett Eibner and Scott Lyons to cut the lead to one. Catcher Ryan Cisterna then tied the game up at 5-5 with a double.
Tennessee would battle back to take a lead but Cisterna tied the game at 7-7 with another double.
But the Razorbacks put the game and series away with a five-run inning that was fueled by a Wilkins three-run home run.
Van Horn said it was a much-needed win after losing Saturday in a strange fashion.
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Arkansas closer Stephen Richards came to the mound hoping to keep the game tied at 4-4.
But as he was ready to deliver a pitch, the runner on first made a move for second base and Richards overthrew first baseman Andy Wilkins, allowing Tennessee to score and take the second game of the series on the two-base errant throw.
"It's hard to even call that an error," Van Horn said. "It was a mental breakdown. Just flick it over there, (and the runner) is a dead dog."
Tennessee used home runs against Eibner to tie the game in the second inning with a Jeff Lockwood home run. Another long ball in the fifth by Cody Hawn put the Volunteers up 4-2.
Tennessee head coach Todd Raleigh said it was important to make Eibner work throughout his outing.
"I thought we did a really good job of not getting quick outs," Raleigh said. "We did not have quick innings. Lockwood gave us a big boost with a home run and then Hawn, that was the difference."
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