By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas pitching coach Dave Jorn, like everyone else in the Razorbacks’ dugout, would love nothing more than an easy weekend.
Three wins in three days in the Fayetteville Regional. Three strong pitching performances from his starters and relievers. It’s the best-case-scenario for a team with lofty postseason goals.
Jorn, who has been around the college game a long time, knows an easy path isn’t common, though. But he is confident about something else: His pitching staff is capable of handling any challenge this week. Maybe more capable than it was last season.
“We’ve got some depth,” Jorn said Tuesday. “You don’t ever want to have to work out of a hole in a loser’s bracket. But if we were ever to get into that situation I feel more confident this year with the type of depth that we have to be able to have enough arms to be able to come out of it.”
The staff will be tested when Arkansas (40-18) opens regional play against Grambling (22-30) in Baum Stadium on Friday at 2:05 p.m. Senior TJ Forrest (7-0, 2.76 ERA) will be the first on the mound when he starts the opener against Grambling.
Staff ace Drew Smyly is scheduled to start Saturday’s game and senior Mike Bolsinger will likely start Sunday. The one-two punch of Smyly and Bolsinger, especially, is one Arkansas catcher James McCann said should be valuable this month.
“I’d put them up against anybody in the nation,” McCann said. “Smyly has been lights out all year and Bolsinger has done a heck of a job. I mean, having those two guys start and go deep into the game gives our bullpen a chance to rest and give us a chance to win the ballgame any time he’s on the mound.”
The Razorbacks haven’t had many problems when they’ve gone to the bullpen, either. DJ Baxendale, Jeremy Heatley, Geoffrey Davenport, Jordan Pratt and Brett Eibner have given the Hogs quality innings.
The collection of arms have been throwing at their best for a few weeks now. Arkansas’ pitchers have not allowed more than five runs in 13 straight games, a strong statement in an aluminum bat world.
“Everybody has been just on their game,” said Smyly (8-1, 2.54 ERA), who has been among the Southeastern Conference’s best. “It doesn’t matter who we pitch, they’re going to go out and get the job done.”
The Razorbacks are an unimpressive 5-8 over that span, but an offense that has struggled to drive in runs has shouldered much of the blame. While the hitting troubles have grabbed headlines, Arkansas’ improved pitching has quietly kept the Razorbacks within striking distance in nearly every game.
Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said that collective approach will be critical in NCAA Regional play.
“It’s been a staff effort this year,” Van Horn said. “It’s not like we’ve had to just depend on one guy. That’s why we think if we can get it going again offensively and our pitchers maintain or take a step forward, we can get through this tournament.”
Arkansas enters the postseason ranked among the SEC’s best staffs. The Razorbacks were third in staff ERA (3.86), second in walks (158) and hits (493), and fourth in strikeouts (496).
Success has been more evident after Arkansas redefined roles after the series loss to Auburn in early May. Eibner was pulled from the starting rotation and moved to the bullpen. Pratt became the team’s closer. Bolsinger eventually moved back into the rotation and Forrest began starting, too.
It’s clear the new duties have worked.
“What they’ve done really well is they’ve pounded the strike zone,” said Jorn, whose staff is 10th in the nation in walks allowed per nine innings (2.76). “We don’t really walk a lot of guys. We make them swing the bat and they’ve thrown some pretty quality pitches out there against some pretty tough competition. They’ve done a heck of a job.”
Eibner, who may not pitch this weekend because of a hairline fracture in his hand, said there’s no doubt Arkansas’ offense must improve this week with regional play beginning. But he said it’s good to know the pitching staff is ready to do its part to push the Razorbacks into a Super Regional.
“You couldn’t ask for anything better from them,” Eibner said. “I just hope they keep doing what they’re doing. I know they will. They go about their business. They do what they do and they’ve done a great job. Hopefully we can keep doing that.”
Calling All Arms
Arkansas pitcher coach Dave Jorn is confident in the Razorbacks’ pitching depth. Here’s a look at who the Hogs will be counting on in this week:
LHP Drew Smyly (Starter) 8-1, 2.54 ERA
RHP Mike Bolsinger (Starter) 6-4, 4.35 ERA
RHP TJ Forrest (Starter/Reliever) 7-0, 2.76 ERA)
RHP DJ Baxendale (Reliever/Starter) 0-2, 3.83 ERA)
RHP Jordan Pratt (Reliever) 3-1, 4.08 ERA
LHP Geoffrey Davenport (Reliever) 2-2, 3.66 ERA
RHP Jeremy Heatley (Reliever) 5-0, 4.15 ERA)
LHP Jason Fuqua (Reliever) 0-0, 3.27 ERA
RHP Brett Eibner (Reliever) 3-4, 4.47 ERA
