By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
TEMPE, Ariz. — Arkansas pitcher Ryne Stanek didn’t turn in the type of freshman season he expected after turning down the chance to play pro baseball out of high school to join the Razorbacks.
But Stanek saved his best two performances of the year for when they mattered most.
Stanek (4-2, 3.94 ERA) was strong in an elimination game once again Sunday, pitching a complete game in Arkansas’ 11-2 win against Charlotte.
The right-hander earned his second postseason start and collected his most important win, allowing three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts.
“I was able to keep the ball in the zone, mix it up pretty well,” Stanek said. “I threw everything for a strike and kept us in the game and gave us a chance.”
The complete game followed a strong performance in a 4-1 elimination game win against Alabama in the Southeastern Conference Tournament. Stanek allowed one run on two hits in 7 2/3 innings in that start.
The Kansas native credited his late-season surge to ongoing work with his mechanics throughout the year. He opened the season in Arkansas’ starting rotation, but was pulled after struggling in the role.
“I solidified some things in my mechanics, slowed myself down, calmed a lot of my moving parts down and simplified my delivery pretty much,” Stanek said. “It has helped keep me calm throughout the game instead of getting going too fast and a little out of control.”
Stanek was aided Sunday by an Arkansas offense that snapped out of its regional funk to score four runs in the first. He was working with a 7-0 lead when it became clear he had a shot to throw all nine innings.
Stanek’s complete game, which was the second for an Arkansas pitcher this season, also helped preserve the bullpen for the regional final against Arizona State.
“At about five, I felt like my pitch count was low and I could definitely go more than seven or eight,” Stanek said. It’s a pretty cool going a complete game in a regional like this.”
Draft Starts Today
Arkansas will be keeping a close eye on the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft now that its season has ended.
The first round begins tonight at 6 p.m. Rounds two through 30 will be held Tuesday, while rounds 31 through 50 are set for Wednesday.
Catcher James McCann should be the first current Razorback pulled off the draft board this week. Other draft eligible Hogs include: outfielders Collin Kuhn, Kyle Robinson and Jarrod McKinney, second baseman Bo Bigham, shortstop Tim Carver and pitcher Trent Daniel.
“I tried not to think about it up until now,” McCann said late Sunday night. “I’ve been trying to win this regional. It sure would’ve been nice playing (tonight) while the draft was going on, but it didn’t happen for us. But I’m excited for it.”
The Razorbacks are expecting to lose part of their signing class to pro baseball, too. The highest-rated members of the group includes outfielder Brandon Nimmo and pitchers Dillon Howard and Michael Fulmer.
“We have a great class signed,” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. “We’re going to lose four or five in the first and early on the second day. We’ve just got to see where we’re at.”
Records Tied, Set
Arkansas first baseman Dominic Ficociello struggled in the Tempe Regional, going 2-for-16. But he did tie the school’s freshman record for hits (75) against Charlotte. Ficociello equaled the mark set by Jeff King in 1984 thanks to a squeeze bunt with two outs in the first, which drove in Arkansas’ first run.
He couldn’t move into sole possession of first place the rest of the day, though, going hitless in his final seven at-bats against Charlotte and Arizona State.
Kuhn grabbed sole possession of a school record late Sunday night, though, when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the seventh inning. It was the 53rd time Kuhn was hit by a pitch in his career, which pushed him past Jack Welsh for the school mark.
Kuhn was hit by pitches three times in the regional.
All-Regional Team
Three Arkansas players were named to the all-regional team late Sunday night.
Stanek and pitchers DJ Baxendale earned honors after strong performances in Arkansas’ two wins. Outfielder Jarrod McKinney also landed on the all-regional team after batting .533 (8-for-15) with three doubles, a triple and two RBIs in four games in Tempe.
Arizona State placed five players on the all-regional team, including Joey DeMichele. The designated hitter hit two home runs and nine RBIs in three games.
Scoreless Streak
Charlotte’s Justin Seager hit a solo home run off Stanek in the fifth inning Sunday afternoon, ending a streak in which Arkansas’ pitchers had thrown 20 straight scoreless innings in the Tempe Regional.
The run was Arkansas’ first allowed since the second inning of the regional opener against the 49ers last Friday. Charlotte scored three runs off Randall Fant in that inning en route to a 3-2 win.
Arkansas’ pitching staff held teams scoreless in 23 of 27 innings pitched heading into Sunday night’s game against Arizona State.
Familiar Face
Former Arkansas outfielder Brett Eibner attended the Razorbacks’ regional games in Tempe this weekend.
Eibner, who is playing in the Kansas City Royals organization, is temporarily in Arizona while he rehabilitates a thumb injury.
“It’s hot, real hot,” Eibner said after sitting in the stands during the 105-degree day. “But it’s awesome. I wish they were hosting, but selfishly it’s nice having them out here on the road. I can see them.”
Another former Hog, pitcher Nick Schmidt, was in attendance as well. Schmidt is in the San Diego Padres organization and rehabbing an injury.
