Arkansas Week 1 Recap

By: Charlie Shields
Date: February 17, 2003

The first week of the 2003 Arkansas baseball season saw three wins, two "snow/cold outs" and one thing I've never seen before (but more on that later.)
The season was supposed to get underway on February 9th against Missouri Southern, but the game was called due to snow. Since I had been looking forward to Opening Day since roughly, ohthe last out of the Super Regional LAST season, I was disappointed to say the least. The game was cancelled the day before and I mentally (and literally) cursed the athletic department for giving in to the forces of mother nature, but when I awoke on Sunday morning to a blizzard, (at least, it was a blizzard to me, but you'll have to remember that I'm Southern born and Southern bred and never have ventured North of the Mason-Dixon) I guess I could see the logic.
So Missouri Southern got away without an opening day loss to the Hogs (all time record has Arkansas up 43-1-1) and the Creighton Blue Jays coming to town for a Tuesday afternoon game. Dave Van Horn's first game in Razorback red (and a new beginning to Razorback baseball) had just been cranked up a few difficulty notches.

Arkansas vs. Creighton
The Razorbacks made sure it was a beautiful day, despite the chill. Starting pitcher Jarrett Gardner did his part, pitching perfectly through the first five innings as the Hog offense built a 7 run lead. (And as a brief aside, isn't it absolute torture when your pitcher has a no-hitter or perfect game going and you can't talk about it for fear of the dreaded jinx?)
The first RBI of the new season belonged to Scott Bridges doubled to score newcomer Chris Williams.
Ryan Fox got the first home run of the year for the Hogs, sending a no-doubter over the left field fence (and over the "Hog Pen" as well). Miami transfer Haas Pratt also homered for Arkansas. The Hogs had 11 hits, seven of which were extra base hits.
The Blue Jays chased Gardner in the sixth inning and managed two earned runs in the inning. They would three more, but the Hogs held on to give Dave Van Horn his first Razorback win, 9-5. Scott Roehl relieved Gardner, and Jay Sawatski and Caton Hall saw their first action as Razorback.

Arkansas vs. Eastern Illinois
The first weekend series of the year was cut short by cold and snow flurries, but the Razorbacks did get two of the games in. A blowout on Saturday allowed the fans to get a look at much of the bench and bullpen.
On Friday, starter Clint Brannon, Charley Boyce and Caton Hall combined to hold Eastern Illinois to just 1 run and the Hog offense scored 5 to get their second victory of the season.
In the seventh inning, the fans got to see something I've never seen before, as Arkansas Head Coach Dave Van Horn brought it to the attention of umpire Mike Grace (Mark Grace's brother and an umpire at many of Arkansas's games) that No. 5 and 6 EIU hitters Nolan Cork and Aaron Shelbourne were batting out of order. Shelborne had just hit a 2 out single, but was called out for the miscue. Van Horn noticed the discrepancy in the first inning, but waited until it would benefit the Hogs before he called attention to it.
The game was close (2-1) until the bottom of the seventh inning, when EIU pitcher Kirk Miller walked three batters to load the bases and then gave up a pair of singles to Scott Hode and Andrew Wishy.

The Saturday afternoon game started off hot, and looked to be a slugfest. That is, until the bottom of the first.
EIU started off the game with three runs in the top of the first inning, scored on two home runs. Arkansas, not to be out-done on their home field, plated 11 in the opening inning to all but put the game away. All that was left was for the fans to sit in the cold for three hours while it became official.
The Hogs played 16 position players on the day, and used five pitchers, including Ryan Fox. The outfielder saw his first action of the season on the mound (and first since high school), pitching the ninth. He got into a little trouble (due to defensive lapses), but struck out two and didn't allow any runs.
Scott Roehl started for Arkansas and returning pitchers Kyler Pomeroy and Josh Merryman relieved him. The Hogs also got their first look at true freshman John Findley. Findley pitched the eighth inning and struck out the side.

The Hogs are off this week but will go on the road for the first time this weekend for the Service Academy Classic in Millington, Tennessee where they will play Navy, Illinois and Memphis. The Hogs will play at Kansas (who swept LSU at the Box last weekend) next Tuesday and then return home for a three game set against Illinois-Chicago.

The Hogs have 10 players batting over .300, and are led offensively by infielder Brett Hagedorn, who is hitting .625 (5-8).