By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas hitting coach Todd Butler has long considered first baseman Andy Wilkins one of the best hitters in the country.
So when Butler was asked about Wilkins’ performance in the past four games, he certainly didn’t sound surprised by the production.
“It’s nothing that I don’t anticipate from him to be honest,” Butler said. “I think he’s that type of player.”
Wilkins continued an impressive stretch during Arkansas’ 15-3 win against Kansas, which was played in front of an announced crowd of 1,063 in Baum Stadium on a cold Tuesday night. The left-hander went 2-for-3 with four RBIs to help lift the Razorbacks (6-1) to their fifth straight win.
He got Arkansas on the board in the first inning with a sacrifice fly that scored right fielder Jarrod McKinney from third base. He tied the game in the third with an RBI double. Then, Wilkins helped the Hogs take control by drawing a bases loaded walk in the fourth, which gave Arkansas a 4-2 lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
“I’m trying to get my timing down and just trying to have quality at-bats,” Wilkins said. “I’m looking for pitches and when I’m getting them, I’m taking advantage of them.”
Arkansas has played four games in the five days. Wilkins has put up some big numbers in the wins: He is 6-for-13 (.461) with three doubles, two home runs and 11 RBIs.
Even when Wilkins hasn’t made contact, he has gotten on base by drawing six walks.
“He’s real comfortable right now,” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. “There’s some guys that are feeling their way along, but like we’ve said, if you can get three or four guys rolling in your lineup and other guys just can contribute you’re going to win a lot of games.”
But Wilkins wasn’t the only hitter who had success against Kansas (4-2), which gave up 11 hits, walked 14 batters and hit two more Tuesday night.
Lead-off hitter Jarrod McKinney went 2-for-4, hit his first home run, drove in four runs and scored four more. Monk Kreder also broke out of a weekend slump with an opposite field home run and finished with 3 RBIs. Even freshman Matt Reynolds, who had struggled at the bottom of the order, notched a hit and his first RBI at Arkansas.
Arkansas didn’t have as much trouble on the mound despite the chilly temperatures. Starter TJ Forrest surrendered two runs during his two-inning stint, but Arkansas allowed one more run out of the bullpen. Geoffrey Davenport (1-1) earned the win after throwing two scoreless innings.
“Give these guys credit,” Van Horn said. “It’s 35 degrees and they’re coming out of the bullpen one after another throwing strikes. That was impressive.”
The mid-week game was a tune-up for Arkansas’ weekend trip to the West Coast to play California. Van Horn said the cross-country trip will be a chance to see how Arkansas stacks up against a Pac-10 team.
It’s clear Arkansas knows what it can expect from its three-hole hitter, though. After seven games this season, Wilkins has proven he remains the most dangerous hitter in a lineup that showed plenty of potential Tuesday night.
“This guy has so much experience,” Butler said. “He’s a very confident player. He has that swagger when he gets in the box. I hope he has a heck of a year.”
