By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — There’s something about Missouri State that just seems to work for Brett Eibner.
The center fielder can’t explain his success. He doesn’t really want to. Either way, the Razorbacks were fortunate it continued Wednesday night.
After pitching and hitting Arkansas to a pair of victories against the Bears last season, Eibner pestered them once again during a 5-4 win in front of 6,364 in Baum Stadium. The junior went 1-for-2 with 4 RBIs, including a two-run home run that proved to be the pivotal hit in a tight game.
“There’s some teams that you’ve got,” Eibner said with a shrug. “I just feel good coming out here and playing against those teams.”
Eibner was the winning pitcher in two midweek games against Missouri State last season, throwing eight scoreless innings against the Bears. He also hit a pair of solo home runs in a 2-0 win in the second game, which was played in Springfield, Mo.
Eibner had a little more help from the rest of the Razorbacks (34-8) on Wednesday. But his contributions were a big part in Arkansas ending a two-game skid as it looks ahead to Auburn.
“It’s big,” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said of the win. “If you lose three in a row and you’ve got Auburn coming in here that’s leading the league in about every offensive statistic, it puts a lot of pressure on you. Now we can take a breath, take a step back and really mentally get ready for Auburn.”
But the Razorbacks couldn’t really take a breath until reliever Jeremy Heatley got Aaron Conway to fly out to right field to end the game, though.
Missouri State (17-22) gave Arkansas plenty of problems, using three pitchers to limit the Hogs to six hits. The Bears — who were outscored 12-0 in two games against the Hogs last season — also took advantage of some earlier chances to take the lead.
Christian Overstreet had Missouri State’s biggest hit, smacking a three-run home run off Arkansas reliever Jason Fuqua to give the Bears a 4-2 lead in the fourth inning.
Arkansas got one run back in the bottom of the inning when shortstop Matt Reynolds hit into a fielder’s choice. But it took Eibner’s home run off reliever Blake Barber (2-4) to push the Razorbacks back into the lead in the fifth.
“I don’t know what it is,” said Eibner, who hit his team-leading 14th home run. “It’s just confidence, really coming out and knowing you can hit.
“I know I can come out and swing the bat well.”
From there, Arkansas had to hold off the Bears.
The biggest threat came in the eighth inning, when Christian Kowalchuk allowed a leadoff double to Keenen Maddox then walked another batter. The Razorbacks caught a break when catcher James McCann threw out Maddox at second base. Maddox appeared to get back safely, but had actually tagged shortstop Matt Reynolds foot and was ruled out on the play.
“I’ve never seen that before,” Arkansas first baseman Andy Wilkins said. “I don’t know what the deal was. Luckily, it went in our favor.”
After Kowalchuk allowed another single, Heatley was called out of the bullpen to get the Razorbacks out of the jam. Heatley, who was Arkansas’ sixth pitcher, got two outs. He also retired the Bears in order in the ninth to earn his second save.
“Heatley did a great job,” Van Horn said. “He’s the one, to me, that came in and did a heck of a job.”
Van Horn said before the game it was important for Arkansas to play well and move past the frustrating weekend at Florida, when the Hogs lost the series finale with a close call at home plate. His team’s performance against the Bears wasn’t exactly a thing of beauty Wednesday night, but it was enough for Arkansas to snap its losing streak at two games.
Eibner — who hurt Missouri State for the third time in two years — was a big reason for the success.
“We want to forget about (the Florida) series and come out and keep looking forward,” Eibner said. “Now we’ve got to look forward to Auburn and get back to what we were doing when we were hot.”
Extra Bases
Arkansas hitting coach Todd Butler was not with the team Wednesday after being ejected at the end of Sunday’s game at Florida. It was the second time Butler has been ejected this season so he was serving a suspension. He’ll also be suspended for Friday’s game against Auburn. Pitching coach Dave Jorn was the team’s first base coach Wednesday, while Chris Curry moved from first to third. … Right fielder Collin Kuhn was hit by a pitch Wednesday night for the 22nd time this season. It ties a school record. … First baseman Andy Wilkins doubled in the first to snap an 0-for-15 stretch at the plate. Wilkins, who entered the game hitting .272, was hitless in the previous four games. He finished 1-for-4 Wednesday. … Missouri State coach Keith Guttin was ejected in the fourth inning. Assistant Brent Thomas was ejected in the eighth.
