Tag: Diamond Hogs

Diamond Hogs dominate Eastern Illinois 13-2, helping Dave Van Horn reach historic milestone

Here’s a closer look at Arkansas baseball’s impressive 13-2 win over Eastern Illinois in Game 1 of the weekend series.

The No. 9 Arkansas Razorbacks were able to start their weekend series with Eastern Illinois in impressive fashion with a dominant 13-2 win in just seven innings.

Both teams agreed to allow the 10-run mercy rule be in play on Friday, meaning if either team was up by 10 runs or more past the seventh inning, the game would be declared over. Sure enough, the Diamond Hogs were able to utilize it for the second time this season after [autotag]Kendall Diggs[/autotag] hit a three-run homer into deep left field in the bottom of the seventh inning to end the game.

Arkansas looked much better on Friday afternoon than they did in their 9-7 come-from-behind victory over Grambling State earlier in the week. The win marks a historic milestone for Razorbacks head coach [autotag]Dave Van Horn[/autotag], as it marked his 800th win as Arkansas’ head coach.

Let’s go beyond the box score and take a closer look at the Razorbacks’ dominant win to start their weekend series off on the right foot and help Van Horn make history.

No. 8 Arkansas vs. Grambling State: How to watch, stream, listen

Arkansas manager, Dave Van Horn, will likely treat this game as a tune-up, looking for opportunities before the tough SEC season starts. 

There were questions about the Diamond Hogs going into 2023, but we witnessed how good and bad they can be at the College Baseball showdown. 

The Diamond Hogs looked good in the College Baseball Showdown overall, despite the 18-6 debacle against TCU. It’s too early to tell which team will be present for most of the season, but the next test will be a historical black college, Grambling State Tigers.

Arkansas will host Grambling State for a one-game series. The Razorbacks have never lost to a SWAC team, and it shouldn’t change in this afternoon’s matchup either. Grambling State opened its season in the HBCU Classic, finishing 1-2 on the weekend.

Arkansas manager, Dave Van Horn, will likely treat this game as a tune-up, looking for opportunities before the tough SEC season starts.

Diamond Hogs ready for Grambling State after College Baseball Showdown

Let’s see if they can keep that momentum going against Grambling State. The first pitch is at 3:00 pm on SEC Network. 

Our editor, E.Wayne, predicted Arkansas to finish opening weekend at the College Baseball Showdown 1-2, but the Hogs gained an extra win in the final game.

Next for the Razorbacks is the Grambling State Tigers. The Tigers started the season in the Cactus Jack HBCU Classic, only winning their last game against Mississippi Valley State 14-4.

INF Cameron Buford, catcher John Garcia, and OF Trevor Hatton lead the Tigers. The three players combined for 33 home runs, Buford and Garcia were the only players who finished with double-digit home runs.

Arkansas shouldn’t struggle in this game, especially after giving up 18 runs last weekend to No. 18 TCU. Some could say that was a wake-up call because the staff only allowed one run to the No. 9 Oklahoma State Cowboys in the next game. 

“You learn a lot about your team a lot times after a bad loss. They showed a lot of – I don’t know the word I’m trying to use – I always thought we were tough, so I don’t really want to use the word toughness. I don’t question that one bit.” – Dave Van Horn

Let’s see if they can keep that momentum going against Grambling State. The first pitch is at 3:00 pm on SEC Network.

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Photo Gallery: No. 8 Arkansas run-rules No. 9 Oklahoma State 18-1 in seven innings

In their finale from Arlington, the Diamond Hogs shined. Here’s the best photos from their appearance in the College Baseball Showdown.

Arkansas baseball was able to bounce back from a tough loss on Saturday, and destroyed the No. 9 Oklahoma State Cowboys 18-1 in a run-ruled seven innings. The Diamond Hogs finished their weekend 2-1 with a 3-2 win over Texas on Friday and the 18-1 win over  Oklahoma State yesterday. Their lone loss was 18-6 to No. 15 TCU on Saturday.

“What a great job by the team bouncing back after a tough loss yesterday,” Arkansas head coach [autotag]Dave Van Horn[/autotag] said. “You learn a lot about your team a lot of times after a bad loss or even just a loss. I told the team it was a great weekend as far as learning.”

In the win against the Cowboys, starting pitcher [autotag]Hunter Hollan[/autotag] allowed just one run on three hits, stuck out five batters and walked just two in four innings of action.

Transfer left fielder [autotag]Jared Wegner[/autotag] continued his impressive start to the season going 2-for-4 with a triple, homerun and 5 RBIs to lead the high-octane Razorback offense.

Here’s some of the best photos from Arkansas’ finale in Arlington on Sunday evening.

Postgame observations from Arkansas’ 18-1 rout of Oklahoma State

Arkansas baseball made quick work of Oklahoma State on Sunday. Here’s some observations from the 18-1 blow out.

In their 18-6 loss to No. 15 TCU on Saturday night, the Arkansas bats struggled to come alive through nine innings.

There was no such problem at all on Sunday when the No. 8 Razorbacks beat the brakes off of the No. 9 Oklahoma State Cowboys, 18-1 in a run-rule seven inning victory.

“You learn a lot about your team a lot times after a bad loss,” said head coach [autotag]Dave Van Horn[/autotag]. “They showed a lot of – I don’t know the word I’m trying to use – I always thought we were tough, so I don’t really want to use the word toughness. I don’t question that one bit.”

Arkansas really broke the game wide open in the second inning when they were able to tally five runs against Cowboys starting pitcher Bayden Root. After a five-run second inning, the Razorbacks put the game away in the third after adding another fiver runs to make it 10-0.

Here’s a closer look at what all went right for the Razorbacks in the finale from Arlington’s [autotag]College Baseball Showdown[/autotag].

Former Arkansas outfielder named MVP of Arizona Fall League

Former Arkansas outfielder Heston Kjerstad, once the No. 2 overall pick, is making his march toward the Big Leagues.

Heston Kjerstad is on the verge.

The former Arkansas outfielder was taken second overall in the 2020 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles. Big things were expected, but Kjerstad was diagnosed with myocarditis and didn’t make his professional debut until this past June.

The Orioles sent him to the Arizona Fall League this offseason and he rewarded their patience by earning Most Valuable Player honors, it was announced Saturday. Kjerstad led the AFL in hits, doubles and total bases. He had a slash line of .357/.385/.622.

Previous MVPs in the Arizona Fall League include Nolan Arenado, Kris Bryant and Ronald Acuna Jr.

During his primary season in the summer, split between High-A and Single-A, Kjerstad five home runs in 65 games, slashing .309/.394/.457. He is the Orioles ninth-rated prospect entering the spring.

Diamond Hogs open 2023 season at Globe Life Field

Arkansas Baseball releases the 2023 schedule, opening the season at Globe Life Field

The Diamond Hogs released their 54-game schedule Wednesday afternoon. Arkansas will take on 11 schools that were previously in the NCAA Tournament, three of which advanced to the College World Series.

The Diamond Hogs posted a 46-21 record last year, also punching a ticket to the College Baseball World Series in Omaha, looking to repeat the magic.

The 2023 season will start in February at the College Baseball Showdown at Globe Life Field in Arlington Texas, home of the Texas Rangers. The three-day series is scheduled for February 17-19.

Their opponent has not been announced but SEC members Missouri and Vanderbilt will also partake in the Showdown, with Oklahoma State, Texas, and TCU representing the Big 12.

The Diamond Hogs also will play at MLB minor league stadium Dickey-Stephens Park in Little Rock.

Arkansas’ schedule includes a 19-game homestand and 10 conference series. The homestand is the longest since 1982 when the Diamond Hogs were coached Norm DeBriyn, who managed the program for 32-years before Dave Van Horn took over.

Diamond Hogs upset by Alabama in SEC Tournament

Arkansas’ bullpen stifles Alabama, but it was too late as the Diamond Hogs lost to the Tide for the third time in four games.

That was moderately unexpected.

Arkansas baseball, the No. 3-seeded team in the SEC Baseball Tournament, fell to No. 11 Alabama on Wednesday in the second round, 4-3. The Razorbacks are now in the elimination bracket and can’t lose again or they’re gone from Hoover.

Alabama jumped out to a 4-1 lead after four innings, chasing Diamond Hogs starter Will McEntire after just 2 1/3. His bullpen gave up just two hits the rest of the way, but the Arkansas lineup managed just five hits itself for the whole game.

Chris Lanzilli popped a two-run home run in the sixth to pull the Razorbacks within a run. But Jalen Battles was the only player to collect a hit after that point, his single putting him on first base with two outs in the ninth. Jace Bohrofen struck out to end the game.

Arkansas’ opponent the next round is to-be-determined. Rain washed out the entire rest of Wednesday’s four-game schedule. Three second-round games remain, plus, in theory, Thursday’s originally scheduled games. It’s unclear how the league will proceed. Rain is expected all morning Saturday in the greater Birmingham, Alabama, metro area, though it’s supposed to clear by 2 p.m. and remain that way the rest of the weekend.

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