Diamond Hogs unload on Washington State in nightcap of season-opening DH sweep

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON

FAYETTEVILLE – After struggling offensively in game one of a season-opening doubleheader sweep against Washington State, Arkansas unloaded the lumber in the nightcap.

The Razorbacks – who got great pitching all day – routed the Cougars 14-2 in a run-rule game two after using a two-run 10th inning rally to win 3-2 in the opener.

After only five hits in the opener, Arkansas had 13 in the second game.

“Doesn’t surprise me a bit,” Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said of the rally and the sweep.

“I mean, we have a good team. Have some guys that are going to fight to play and are pushing each other, but they all like each other it seems like.

“I don’t think they’re ever going to shut it down. Your just a walk and a base hit away from having that guy up maybe when you are down a couple and hit a three run homer.

“I hope this team has that knack cause that’s what pushes you over the top is when you can come back and beat people late.

“..You know the first game was a big win and we kind of relaxed.”

Both Arkansas victories featured walk offs of sorts as Kuhio Aloy’s three-run blast invoked the run rule in the second game after Brent Iredale’s sacrifice fly ended the opener.

But Van Horn thought the key play of the opener was shortstop Wehiwa Aloy’s spectacular play in the top of the 10th.

Aloy caught a pop up running with his back to the plate and fired home for third out to end the threat.

“Really you look back on it, the play of the day was Aloy’s play at shortstop was incredible,” Van Horn said. “He catches the ball over his head, the wind’s blowing the ball, he spins and makes an off-balance throw right on the money and we get a tag out.

“And instead of being down two runs going into the bottom of the 10th we’re only down one. Obviously we end up scoring two and winning the game.”

The Razorbacks would be issued three straight walks in the bottom of the 10th and then tied it on wild pitch.

Washington State chose to walk Logan Maxwell and Iredale’s fly to center played the game-winner.

It was a day where the Australian was 4 of 8 with 5 RBIs while just missing a pair of homers.

“Well, he had a great day,” Van Horn said. “Unfortunately for him and us, the wind’s not blowing like it was, that ball hits the top of the batter’s eye. That ball was absolutely crushed and it didn’t go anywhere. We had a couple of balls that would have been out of the park, two or three. They had a couple as well.

“One of ours could have been a three-run homer, (Logan) Maxwell’s ball. Centerfielder made a great play, still got a sac fly out of it, That ball was hammered and then Brent’s ball there.

“I like the base hits up the middle, line drives all over the field. I thought he played great defense for us today, cut off a couple balls, prevented them from getting to the 6-5 hole, probably not going to be able to throw anybody out. One of them he started a double play.

“I said all along, we knew he could hit and then when he got to campus, my comment was “He’s a better defender than I thought and he’s continued to get better. That’s been big for him and us.”

The Razorbacks got great pitching from starters Gabe Gaeckle in game one and East Carolina transfer Zach Root (1-0).

The pair both went five innings and combined to allow just one run and fan 15.

I thought the Gaeckle was outstanding,” Van Horn said of the former reliever’s first college start. “You take away the, I think it was the third inning when his pitch count got up there. He was cruising after two innings, he’d only thrown 22 pitches and you’re thinking ‘This guy might go 6 or 7 today.’ And give them credit. They fought him a little bit. 

“…The second game I think Zach Root really set the tone first inning. He was really good. Really good five innings honestly. Really commanded his breaking ball, had a cutter, fastball, busted right-handers in with his heater, locked them up. He had it all going today. It was fun to watch. So good day for us.”

Arkansas also used Will McEntire, Parker Coil and Christian Foutch (1-0) in the opener and Aiden Jiminez and Tate McGuire in the second contest.

The combined seven hurlers walked just two batters in 19 innings on the day.

“…The pitchers were really good all day,” Van Horn said. “All of them. “None of them really had any control issues, they commanded the zone with more than one pitch. Went through some pretty good hitters. I don’t think we could have asked any more of our pitchers today.”

Washington State starter Griffin Smith matched Gaeckle’s five scoreless frames.

The Cougars jumped ahead 1-0 on Logan Johnstone’s two-out solo home run with two outs off Arkansas reliever Will McEntire in the sixth.

“I just thought we were a little … first-game jitters, a little tight the first game,” Van Horn said. “ And I thought their starter did a really nice job of locating all of his pitches.

“You know, I looked at his record last year in junior college, he was 11-0 with like a 1.99 ERA and you’re kind of thinking, ‘Well, that’s junior college.’ But on the other hand you’re thinking ‘This guy knows how to pitch,’ and he does. He wasn’t overpowering at all but just did a great job.”

Arkansas and Washington State will play again Saturday at 1 p.m., skip Sunday due to expected inclement weather on Sunday and finish the series with a noon game on Monday.

Photo by John D. James