By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas played without one of its most dangerous hitters during its 10-7 loss to Washington State on Sunday night.
Brett Eibner, who leads the team with 21 home runs, sat out because of the leg injury he suffered sliding into third base during Saturday’s game. Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn, who originally said it was just a cramp, indicated after Sunday’s loss that Eibner also has a slightly pulled hamstring and couldn’t play.
“It’s a little pull,” Van Horn said. “No tear. … But it’s hard to run right now.”
Eibner — who looked uncomfortable when he tried jogging during pregame warmups — was replaced in the outfield by freshman Matt Vinson, who played right field. Collin Kuhn moved from right field to center field, Eibner’s usual position when healthy.
In the lineup, Zack Cox, who had batted second the past two games, moved to the three hole in Eibner’s place. Bo Bigham went from the six hole back to the second spot.
Van Horn said there was a chance Eibner could’ve gotten a pinch hit at-bat if Arkansas had runners on base in the ninth inning. But it never came to fruition.
He was optimistic that Eibner would be healthy enough to play tonight.
“I think he’ll be ready to play,” Van Horn said. “It’s do or die. So he needs to get in there. I think his leg started feeling better the longer we were out there so hopefully he’ll be ready.”
Cox, Wilkins Struggle
Arkansas’ lineup was missing a key cog with Eibner down with an injury. The rest of the trio that formed Arkansas 3-4-5 hitters most of the season were in the lineup Sunday night, but didn’t have much to show for it.
Cox and first baseman Andy Wilkins finished a combined 1-for-9 with five strikeouts in the loss. The duo both struck out in the third and seventh innings. Cox struck out again to end the eighth inning with two runners on base and the Hogs trailing 10-7.
Kuhn Streaking
Kuhn, Arkansas’ leadoff hitter, continued to show some impressive power Sunday.
The sophomore hit a solo home run in the sixth inning to help the Razorbacks cut Washington State’s lead to 7-5. It was his third straight game with a home run and fourth total in the Fayetteville Regional.
Kuhn moved to second on the team in home runs behind Eibner with 16.
A Win … Finally
It had been a long time since Washington State has enjoyed a win against the Razorbacks. The Cougars, who were 0-5 against the Razorbacks in the past two seasons entering Sunday’s game, hadn’t beaten Arkansas since the 1992 season.
That season, Washington State beat Arkansas 8-4 during an early-season tournament played in Seattle. Arkansas is now 6-3 against Washington State.
