By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
TEMPE, Ariz. — Arkansas was pushed to the brink of elimination after its 3-2 loss to Charlotte in the Tempe Regional on Friday.
But when DJ Baxendale steps on the mound in an elimination game today, the sophomore will be brimming with confidence. And for good reason.
Baxendale turned in the best performance of his freshman season at Packard Stadium in the Tempe Super Regional last June. He came out of the bullpen in relief of Drew Smyly and tossed what was then a career-long 6 1/3 innings.
“That’s the outing he really grew up,” Arkansas catcher James McCann said earlier this week. “He had a good start to his year and then had a struggle there in the middle just like every freshman will at some point. But he grew up with that outing at Arizona State and took it to the Cape (Cod League) and grew up even more there.
“He grew up into the starter that we have this year that leads our staff.”
Baxendale entered the second game of the 2010 Tempe Super Regional with Arkansas trailing 4-0. His work helped the Razorbacks battle back to tie the game and force extra innings. ASU eventually won 7-5 after Drew Maggi hit a two-run home run off TJ Forrest in the 12th.
“It was huge,” Baxendale said about his relief work. “I feel real confident going into it because I pitched real well there last year.”
Baxendale also has some history against New Mexico. He got his first career start against the Lobos on April 13, 2010, throwing five scoreless innings in a game the Razorbacks won 4-3 in 11 innings. New Mexico coach Ray Birmingham was asked late Friday night what he remembered about Baxendale in that game and said simply: “He’s good.”
Baxendale (9-4, 1.75 ERA) originally was scheduled to throw the opener, but Arkansas went with Randall Fant. The sophomore was pulled in the second inning after allowing three runs.
But Baxendale, who was the only pitcher on Arkansas’ staff with NCAA Tournament experience entering the regional, is no stranger to the pressure after last year’s outing.
“When he was able to go out there and do that, it was just fertilizer, I guess you could say, for his development,” Arkansas pitching coach Dave Jorn said. “It’s helped him to blossom a little bit more and just solidified his confidence and his ability in himself.”
Strong Relief
Fant may have struggled in his start Friday, but Arkansas’ bullpen continued to deliver.
Brandon Moore and Barrett Astin combined to throw seven scoreless innings in Packard Stadium. It extended the Arkansas bullpen’s streak of scoreless innings pitched to 22, dating back to the SEC Tournament opener.
“As a bullpen we just tried to pick up each other,” Moore said. “I came in and tried to pick up Fant. Barrett came in and tried to pick up me when I came out in the jam. … I just wish we would’ve picked up the victory.”
Moore did the bulk of the work Thursday, holding Charlotte scoreless for 5 1/3 innings.
The performance was reminiscent of his 8 1/3 innings pitched in the SEC Tournament loss to Alabama, when he entered with Arkansas trailing 5-0 in a game it eventually lost 7-4.
“I thought Brandon Moore came in and did a tremendous job,” Van Horn said. “Everything you could ever want. He gave us a shot.”
0-for-Tempe
Arkansas said before the NCAA Tournament began its experience in Tempe was a bonus after playing here three times in the past in four years. But the experience in Packard Stadium certainly hasn’t resulted in wins.
The loss to Charlotte dropped Arkansas to 0-5 in Arizona State’s stadium. The previous four losses came against the Sun Devils in the regular season series in 2008 and the 2010 Tempe Super Regional.
Arkansas, which had never played at Arizona State before the 2008 season, will try to end the winless streak in Packard Stadium today.
Kuhn Hit Again
Arkansas outfielder Collin Kuhn was hit by a pitch in the first inning Friday.
It was the 51st time the junior has been hit in his career, moving him one shy of tying the school record. Former Razorback Jack Welsh was hit by 52 pitches between 1997-2000.
