By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — Washington State coach Donnie Marbut faced a dilemma Sunday, minutes after his team beat Kansas State in an elimination game.
Sure, the Cougars advanced to face Arkansas in a game scheduled to start in roughly an hour-and-a-half. But who did Marbut plan to start on the mound? And who was still available in relief after a taxing weekend in Baum Stadium?
The good news for Marbut: He found enough pitching, while his offense showed no sign of fatigue against Arkansas on Sunday night.
Derek Jones went 4-for-5 with two RBIs, Matt Fanelli drove in three more runs, and the Cougars pieced together a pitching effort that beat the Razorbacks 10-7 in front of 8,236 in Baum Stadium. Washington State — known for its propensity to come from behind this season — got to Arkansas starter Mike Bolsinger early, built a 7-1 lead, then held off Arkansas’ late charge.
“We played 18 innings of grinding baseball,” Marbut said. “I credit my guys.
“They just would not give in (Sunday).”
It forces a deciding game for the regional title between Arkansas (42-19) and Washington State (37-21) in Baum Stadium tonight at 7:05. The winner will advance to an NCAA Super Regional.
Clearly, Arkansas was disappointed by the result after moving into the driver’s seat thanks to a nail-biting 6-4 win against the Cougars on Saturday night. Now the Razorbacks — who played without injured center fielder Brett Eibner (pulled hamstring) on Sunday — are in danger of losing another NCAA Regional at home.
Washington State put Arkansas on its heels by scoring in the first, thanks largely to a throwing error by Bolsinger that wiped out a double play opportunity. It was the first time the Razorbacks had trailed all week.
Bolsinger (6-5) continued to struggle, allowing another run in the third on Fanelli’s RBI single.
The Hogs cut it to 2-1 before Bolsinger collapsed. Five WSU batters reached safely to open the fifth to add two more runs. Then, with the bases loaded, shortstop Shea Vucinich slapped a two-run double to left field that made it 6-1.
The hit ended Bolsinger’s night after 4 1/3 innings. Christian Kowalchuk came on in relief and WSU scored once more to make it 7-1.
“Any time you give up five runs in one inning and find yourself down like we were, it can just snowball on you,” Arkansas coach Dave Horn said.
Arkansas didn’t roll over, though, mounting a comeback reminiscent of Washington State’s performance throughout the regional.
Monk Kreder collected the first big hit in the bottom of the fifth when he roped a two-out, two-run double to make it 7-3. James McCann and Collin Kuhn each hit solo home runs in the sixth inning to close the gap to 7-5. Then, Kreder followed in the seventh with another solo home run, sending a two-out, two-strike pitch over the left field wall to cut the lead to 7-6.
It was as close as Arkansas could get.
“Solo shots usually don’t beat you,” Kreder said. “We just didn’t come up with the big hits.”
WSU settled down and regained a comfortable advantage by scoring three runs in the eighth off Kowalchuk and closer Jordan Pratt. Reliever Chad Arnold, who started and threw 113 pitches in WSU’s regional opener against Kansas State on Friday night, took care of the Razorbacks from there and struck out McCann to end the game.
Arnold was one of three WSU pitchers to turn in gutsy efforts to keep the Razorbacks in check.
The most impressive came from starter James Wise, who started and threw 2 2/3 innings during the early game against Kansas State. Wise (4-1) got the ball again and held Arkansas to one run in three innings in his second start of the day.
“They picked me up in the first game,” Wise said about allowing six runs against Kansas State. “They took me off the hook. Several different guys answered the bell. I felt it was my turn to answer the bell for my teammates and do the job.”
Said Van Horn: “You’ve got to appreciate that. He gave them a chance.”
Now both teams will be scrambling to piece together pitching in a must-win game.
Marbut said WSU didn’t know who would start after the game, but would be counting on pitchers who hadn’t thrown much this year. Van Horn said the Razorbacks may start Jeremy Heatley, but will plan on using TJ Forrest, DJ Baxendale and anyone else who might be available tonight.
“It’s frustrating, but there’s another game tomorrow,” Kreder said. “So we’ll be ready.”
