By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas moved into the driver’s seat of the Fayetteville Regional with a 6-4 win against Washington State on Saturday.
The Razorbacks accomplished it with their biggest hitter suffering another injury.
Outfielder Brett Eibner, who entered the regional with a hairline fracture in his right hand, hurt his right leg sliding into third base in the third inning. Eibner stayed in the game, but looked uncomfortable all night.
Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn thought Eibner’s leg cramped up and did not believe it was anything more severe. However, he wasn’t sure of Eibner’s status for tonight’s game.
“It looks like a cramp,” Van Horn said. “Yes, I am concerned about it. But if he’s not ready to go, we’ve got other guys that can do it.”
The injury came a day after Eibner opened the regional with a bang, hitting three home runs and driving in seven runs in the 19-7 win against Grambling State. The three home runs tied the school’s single-game record and gave him 21 for the year, which moved the junior to third on the Razorbacks’ single-season chart.
Eibner went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts and two walks against Washington State. He was in obvious pain after sliding into third, grabbing the back of his leg. More pain was evident after he struck out swinging in the fourth.
Arkansas moved Eibner from center field to right field after he suffered the injury to help alleviate some of his defensive responsibilities. Sophomore Collin Kuhn manned center field the rest of the game.
“It was the running that got him,” Van Horn said. “It was really surprising me that it was cramping up. I thought it was a hamstring.
“I’m thinking, from what I’ve been told, if it’s a hamstring he wouldn’t have been able to run. So I think it is a cramp. We’ve got all day (today) to get him going.”
Defensive Star
Washington State second baseman Cody Bartlett was impressive at the plate, hitting his second home run in as many days Saturday. But it was his performance in the field that caught everyone’s attention in Baum Stadium.
Bartlett was flawless against the Razorbacks, making several diving stops to keep ground balls in play. Van Horn estimated that Bartlett’s play saved three runs Saturday.
“He made about every play you can make,” Bartlett said. “We just kept thinking, we’re going to put them away, we’re going put them away. And then he made a play.”
Close Call
Arkansas outfielder Matt Vinson’s diving catch to end Saturday’s game may have been close to never happening. Van Horn explained after the game that there was some confusion about where Vinson was supposed to be during the at-bat.
The Razorbacks made a late decision to move Vinson, who was a defensive replacement in left field, in with a left-handed batter at the plate. But Vinson got the signal and moved out.
Arkansas frantically got Vinson’s attention and the freshman made the right adjustment. He then made a solid defensive play in a game that was loaded with strong defense on both sides.
“It worked out,” Van Horn said.
Cox At DH
In other injury news: Sophomore Zack Cox was back in the lineup after getting two at-bats against Grambling State. But Cox — who has been nursing a back injury — didn’t man his usual spot at third base against Washington State.
The team’s top hitter was Arkansas’ designated hitter Saturday night. The Razorbacks moved first baseman Andy Wilkins to third base, while Monk Kreder filled in at first base.
Cox had no problem at the plate, going 1-for-5 with a home run and an RBI. He drove in Arkansas’ fourth run thanks to a throwing error by the Cougars. And his solo shot to open the seventh helped Arkansas take a 5-2 lead.
Century Mark
Arkansas starter Drew Smyly recorded his 100th strikeout of the season in the second inning of Saturday’s game. With it, the redshirt sophomore recorded the ninth season of 100 or more strikeouts in school history.
Smyly, who became one of six pitchers in school history to record 100 strikeouts, finished with seven against Washington State. He now has 105 strikeouts this season, which is tied for eighth on the single-season list.
Looking Back
The Arkansas athletic department did some digging in the NCAA record books Friday night an found something interesting. The Razorbacks tied an NCAA Tournament record with nine home runs in the 19-7 win against Grambling State.
The nine home runs, which was a school record, equaled the total Southern Illinois hit in a tournament game against Ball State in 1969.
