Kozeal’s banner day at the plate powers Arkansas past North Dakota State

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON



FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas second baseman Cam Kozeal was fully ready for his first NCAA Baseball Tournament action as a Razorback on Friday.

The Vanderbilt transfer got hits in his first three at bats and finished 3 for 4 with four RBIs as Arkansas downed North Dakota State 6-2 in the opening game of the Fayetteville Regional.

Kozeal singled in a run in the first inning, doubled, in another in the third and blasted a two-run homer in the fifth.

“Just seeing the ball well,” Kozeal said. “First game of the regional you don’t want to go to there timid. You never want to go out there timid.

“So going out there and attacking and getting your best swing off. (Arkansas hitting) Coach (Nate) Thompson and (assistant) Coach (Bobby) Wernes did a great job getting a plan for us.”

The win boosted Arkansas (44-13) into a Saturday night 8 p.m. winner’s bracket game with the winner of Friday night’s game between second-seeded Kansas (40-15) and third-seeded Creighton (41-14).

Kozeal just missed out on hitting for the cycle as he fanned in the eighth.

“That’s all external,” Kozeal said. “Can’t control that. Can’t control what’s a single, double, home run or triple. Just go up there with a competitive mindset and hit the ball hard.”

The Razorbacks and Bison (20-32) both nine hits in the contest with Charles Davalan adding a pair for Arkansas.

“We got a couple of big hits, or should I say Cam did,” Arkansas hews coach Dave Van Horn said.

Kozeal is from Omaha where the College World Series is played.

“Postseason baseball is always a lot of fun,” Kozeal said. “You grow up watching (MLB) baseball in October, wanting to be in those shoes.

“Or you watch the College World Series wanting to be in those shoes. You don’t need to outdo yourself or do anything extra, but just be yourself and have fun and play baseball.”

North Dakota State jumped out 1-0 int he top of the first as Jake Schaeffner walked on Arkansas starter Aiden Jiminez’ first four pitches and scored on Sam Canton’s two-out single.

But the Razorbacks answered right back with a pair as Davalan reached on an infield single, raced to third on Wehiwa Aloy’s double and scored on Logan Maxwell’s sacrifice fly.

Kozeal’s RBI single chased home Aloy to put Arkansas up 2-1.

Coltehn Becker’s solo homer leading off the second tied it up, but Reese Robinett walked and Aloy’s sacrifice fly gave Arkansas a 3-2 lead in the bottom of there frame.

Ryder Helfrick put downed a perfect bunt single in third innings stole a base and scored on Kozeal’s RBI double to put he hosts up 4-2.

Kozeal then blasted a two-run homer in the fifth to put Arkansas up 6-2 and cap the scoring.

All three of those hits came against North Dakota State pitcher Nolan Johnson (4-6), the Summit League Pitcher of the Year.

Kozeal had a simple philosophy against Johnson.

“Go out there, don’t be timid and attack,” Kozeal said. “ Hit the fastball hard. He didn’t have great control over his off speed at some points, so as a hitter, it frees you up because you’re kind of focused on one thing. So yeah, it was a fun day at the ballpark.”

Tayler Stokes knew Johnson faced a tough task in facing the Arkansas offense

“I thought he did a really good job,” Stokes said. “It’s a hell of a lineup. The length to it is incredible. You don’t get any hitters off really 1-9.

“They did a really good job of making him work and had some long innings in the first three or four innings there, too.”

Photo by John D. James