The Hog’s postseason run ended on Friday as the LSU Tigers handed the Arkansas Razorbacks a tough 14-5 loss. The loss officially ended Arkansas’ baseball season for 2009, and LSU is now set to play Texas for the championship.
Heading into the game, you had to be less than optimistic about Arkansas’ chances. Arkansas entered the game with a depleted pitching staff, and with their starting shortstop, Ben Tschepikow, on the bench with a broken finger. With Tschepikow on the bench, the whole infield shifted putting regular first baseman Wilkins at third, regular third baseman Cox at short and House at first. Arkansas closer Stephen Richards got the start. Coming into the game Richards had never pitched more than three innings in an appearance.
Add all these factors with this season’s history of LSU beating Arkansas with relative ease and it was no wonder that the Tigers jumped all over the Hogs. Heading into the bottom of the 7th it was Arkansas 0, LSU 11. Arkansas finally got to LSU’s pitching after LSU took starter Anthony Ranaudo out of the game. Ranaudo pitched an outstanding game giving up no runs in 6 innings pitched. Unfortunately, the damage had been done and Arkansas didn’t have enough left to overcome the double digit deficit they found themselves in.
Arkansas did all they could against a stacked LSU team, but it seemed that the win over the Virginia Cavaliers drained everything they had left, both physically and mentally. The Hogs came out flat and exhausted, while the Tigers looked rested and relaxed. As far as I am concerned, the win over the Cavaliers was Arkansas’ World Series. It was a classic.
Arkansas’ impressive showing at the College World Series marks its second best finish in program history. The excitement and exposure created from this year’s baseball team should help with recruiting, which will give us improved teams for years to come.
Good job, guys.
Well, now that basketball and baseball are officially over the Razorback nation can now turn its attention toward its first and second favorite past times, football and talking about football. I, for one, am ready.
