By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — With the leadoff batter on base in the second and fourth innings Friday, Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn instructed first baseman Dominic Ficociello to lay down sacrifice bunts.
Both attempts moved teammate Kyle Robinson to second base Friday night. But neither sacrifice led to a run in a scoreless game.
So when Ficociello stepped up to the plate with the bases empty in the sixth inning, he finally had the green light to swing. The result was the game-winner in Arkansas’ 2-0 victory against LSU in the first game of a critical weekend series.
Ficociello broke open a scoreless game with a solo home run off LSU starter Kurt McCunn. It was his first and, although Arkansas added another run in the seventh, was enough as three pitchers combined to shut out LSU in front the sixth-largest crowd in Baum Stadium’s history (9,712).
“He hit it hard,” Van Horn said. “We see him do it all the time in batting practice and scrimmages in the fall and he’s got some pop in there.
“He finally got him one. That was a good time for his first college home run.”
Ficociello’s home run was one of just six hits the Razorbacks (21-8, 4-6 in Southeastern Conference) collected in a game won by their pitching and defense. LSU was shut out by Arkansas for the first time since May 5, 2007. But the Tigers had numerous opportunities early.
LSU (21-9, 3-7) loaded the bases on Arkansas starter DJ Baxendale in the first and second innings. It had two men on in the third. But each time Baxendale worked his way out tight spots.
“He didn’t have his best stuff,” Van Horn said. “They did a great job against him and fighting off pitches. He just kept wiggling out of jams.”
Baxendale’s night was complicated by a blister that began forming on one of his fingers in the third inning. He battled through the blister before it finally tore two pitches into the sixth inning, ending his night after 97 pitches.
Arkansas turned to reliever Barrett Astin (3-1) and he kept the game scoreless until Ficociello stepped up to the plate with one out in the sixth.
The freshman admitted he was a “little stiff” after not swinging the bat in his first two plate appearances. But Ficociello managed to work McClure (5-1) to a full count, then lined the next pitch over the right field wall.
“There was no thought in my mind whatsoever of hitting the home run,” Ficociello said. “It was more just making them throw pitches and get on base. He put one in a pretty bad spot. I tried to put the barrel on it. That was basically it.”
From there, Astin and closer Nolan Sanburn combined to keep LSU scoreless. The Tigers finished with 10 hits – all singles. But LSU stranded 11 runners in the loss.
“You don’t see too many shutouts on 10 hits,” Astin said. “We did a good job of keeping the ball on the ground.”
There was plenty of help from the defense, which turned three double plays Friday.
One of the biggest came with two on and nobody out in the eighth inning, when left fielder Collin Kuhn caught a fly ball and threw out LSU’s Austin Nola as he tried to advance to third base. It helped Arkansas preserve its 2-0 lead.
“Realistically, the play is to second base right there,” Van Horn said. “We’re all screaming second base. We have a two-run lead, we want to keep that tying run on second. … But he made the play when the ball was in the air. He got behind the ball, had everything perfect when he caught it he got rid of it and made a perfect throw.”
Sanburn earned his fifth save after retiring LSU in the ninth inning, helping Arkansas win on Friday night the third time in four weeks. It’s goal now, though, is accomplishing something it hasn’t all season: winning an SEC series.
Sanburn said the Razorbacks understand there’s work to do as they try to climb out of an early season hole. So he said Arkansas will be “even hungrier” tonight, when Brandon Moore (2-1) steps on the mound opposite LSU’s Kevin Gausman (2-3).
“We haven’t done anything yet,” Van Horn said. “We won a game. So what. So (tonight) is a big game. It’s a big series. It’s important to win.”
