FAYETTEVILLE,Ark--Razorback baseball coach Dave Van Horn understands the challenge of his team closing out the regular season against the leaders in the SEC West and East plus a team with two of the best pitchers in college baseball. Van Horn also says successfully facing such a challenge is largely a state of mind.
"You've got a first place team (still to play) and another first place team," Van Horn told reporters. You go to go face Vandy who supposedly has two of the best college pitchers in the country on the road to finish. Or you can take it as, Well, we get to play the team we're tied with and then we get to play the team we're two games behind and a lot of things can happen in the next two weekends."
"What more could you ask for?" Van Horn concluded.
Van Horn says he's not looking beyond a Friday night matchup in Oxford, Mississippi with the Ole Miss Rebels and the SEC's top starting pitcher, lefty Drew Pomeranz. Pomeranz is 6-0 with a 1.85 ERA. He has 104 strikeouts to just 34 walks. Opposing teams are batting just .167 against him.
"I think we'll try to manufacture some runs early," Van Horn explained. "Try to get in front by a run or two."
The Hogs are mired in a seven game batting slump. They are 3-4 in those games. Still the head Hog says you cannot compare the current slump with the one the team suffered at the end of the regular season in 2009.
"We don't feel like we're in a major slump," Van Horn noted. "We just feel like we got beat by a couple of pretty good teams that out-hit us and out-played us that day and it's going to happen in a long schedule. But obviously we know we need to turn it around and win some games."
But Van Horn also explained, "Last year I think the experience that the guys went through that are back on the team--they're helping the guys who are new in the program."
As for the entire three game series against the Rebels, Arkansas will throw the bulk of it's pitching into the first two games. "We're going to try to concentrate on winning those first two games, Van Horn said flatly. "We'll do what we have to do in the mound to make it happen. We'll let the chips fall where they may on Sunday."
That would include the Hogs regular Sunday starter, Brett Eibner. If the team needs bullpen help on Friday or Saturday Eibner could be called upon. If he's not needed he still could start in the series final.
"You've got a first place team (still to play) and another first place team," Van Horn told reporters. You go to go face Vandy who supposedly has two of the best college pitchers in the country on the road to finish. Or you can take it as, Well, we get to play the team we're tied with and then we get to play the team we're two games behind and a lot of things can happen in the next two weekends."
"What more could you ask for?" Van Horn concluded.
Van Horn says he's not looking beyond a Friday night matchup in Oxford, Mississippi with the Ole Miss Rebels and the SEC's top starting pitcher, lefty Drew Pomeranz. Pomeranz is 6-0 with a 1.85 ERA. He has 104 strikeouts to just 34 walks. Opposing teams are batting just .167 against him.
"I think we'll try to manufacture some runs early," Van Horn explained. "Try to get in front by a run or two."
The Hogs are mired in a seven game batting slump. They are 3-4 in those games. Still the head Hog says you cannot compare the current slump with the one the team suffered at the end of the regular season in 2009.
"We don't feel like we're in a major slump," Van Horn noted. "We just feel like we got beat by a couple of pretty good teams that out-hit us and out-played us that day and it's going to happen in a long schedule. But obviously we know we need to turn it around and win some games."
But Van Horn also explained, "Last year I think the experience that the guys went through that are back on the team--they're helping the guys who are new in the program."
As for the entire three game series against the Rebels, Arkansas will throw the bulk of it's pitching into the first two games. "We're going to try to concentrate on winning those first two games, Van Horn said flatly. "We'll do what we have to do in the mound to make it happen. We'll let the chips fall where they may on Sunday."
That would include the Hogs regular Sunday starter, Brett Eibner. If the team needs bullpen help on Friday or Saturday Eibner could be called upon. If he's not needed he still could start in the series final.
