By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas center fielder Brett Eibner said he’d be ready for the Fayetteville Regional despite being slowed by a hand injury the past two weeks.

The junior went out and proved it against Grambling State on Friday.

Eibner returned to the lineup and recorded a record-tying performance during Arkansas’ 19-7 win against the Tigers in the opening game of the NCAA Tournament.

He went 4-for-5 with three home runs, seven RBIs and five runs scored. He became one of nine players in school history to hit three home runs in a game. Former Hog Tim Smalling was the last to do so in 2008.

“I don’t think I’ve ever done that before,” said Eibner, who has been playing with a hairline fracture in his right hand.

Eibner’s first home run was a 2-run shot to left field in the first inning, giving the Razorbacks a 3-0 lead. His second was a three-run shot to right field in the third inning.

The ball skipped off the top of the wall and into Grambling State’s bullpen. The third home run, which came in a four-run eighth inning, went to right center field.

“He hit the ball extremely well the last couple days in practice,” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. “I noticed in pregame the ball was jumping off the bat when we opened up the rounds for them to just hit.”

It continued when the game began. Eibner hit his three home runs off three different Grambling State pitchers.

“Hairline fracture in his wrist?” Grambling State coach James Cooper said when asked about Eibner’s performance. “I don’t buy it the way he’s swinging the bat.”

The three home runs gives Eibner 21 for the season, moving him into third on Arkansas’ single-season home run list. He became the fourth player in school history to hit more than 20 home runs in a season. Only Danny Hamblin (22 in 2007) and Ryan Lundquist (24 in 1997) have hit more.

But the home runs weren’t the only impressive moments from Eibner Friday.

Eibner also scored a run from second base in the second inning, tagging up and racing home after Monk Kreder hit a deep fly ball to center field. He made a diving catch in center field in the fifth inning, too.

The catch aggravated Eibner’s hand injury, but the junior said it wasn’t a problem.

“It did hurt a little bit on the dive, but that’s from moving around and putting my hand on the ground,” he said. “More than anything I was just excited to be out there and playing after taking two games off.”

Quick Work
Arkansas third baseman Zack Cox singled in the first inning, struck out in the second, then was taken out of Friday’s game.

The sophomore, who had missed five of six games heading into the NCAA Tournament because of a back injury, was replaced by Derrick Bleeker in the third inning. With Arkansas holding an 8-0 lead, Van Horn said it was for precautionary reasons.

“He’ll be all right,” Van Horn said. “We got the lead. He’s fine swinging the bat.”

Cox’s single did give him 93 hits on the year and moved him closer to Arkansas’ single-season mark. Cox is now four shy of tying Matt Erickson’s record of 97 hits in a season, which was set in 1996.

Towering Blast
Eibner may have hit three home runs Friday, but first baseman Andy Wilkins recorded the most impressive shot Friday. His first home run, which came in the seventh inning, cleared the scoreboard in right center field.

“Yeah, I got all of it,” Wilkins said. “It was one of the best balls I’ve hit in a long time and it felt good.”

It was Wilkins’ 14th home run of the season and his first since May 9. It felt so good, Wilkins hit another in his final at-bat.

“I think that ball was going out of every park,” Cooper said of Wilkins’ big blast. “Yellowstone, Jellystone, all of them.”

Holding His Breath
Van Horn’s decision to use No. 3 starter TJ Forrest against the Tigers paid off Friday afternoon. Now, the Razorbacks have top starters Drew Smyly and Mike Bolsinger available to pitch today and Sunday.

But Van Horn admitted he was sweating the move before Friday’s game began.

“If it doesn’t work out it falls back on me,” Van Horn said. “I was a little stressed out to be honest with you. I’m glad we scored six runs in the first.
“It was a little nerve-wracking.”