FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ dress rehearsal for the SEC is taking the Razorbacks to San Diego this week.
Arkansas (10-1) opens a four-game series tonight at San Diego State (2-10), which is coached by Tony Gwynn, a Major League Baseball Hall of Fame member who enjoyed a stellar 20-year career with the San Diego Padres.
Make no mistake, though. This series isn’t about Gwynn. Arkansas’ trip to San Diego has as much to do with the Auburn Tigers as it does the Aztecs or their coach.
Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn likes for his teams to experience a road trip before opening SEC play, and the San Diego State series marks the Razorbacks’ first road trip of the season. Arkansas has played nonconference games over the past few years at Mobile, Ala; College Station, Texas; Honolulu; Edinburg, Texas; and Troy, Ala., while preparing for the start of the SEC season.
The San Diego series should be especially beneficial for an Arkansas team loaded with newcomers, including 12 freshmen, heading into the SEC opener March 18 at Auburn, Ala.
Arkansas will fly out of San Diego on Monday and will face Kansas at home on Tuesday before hitting the road again for Auburn.
“Our guys who are new, they’ve never experienced getting up at the crack of dawn, getting on a bus to go to the airport, then standing in line with two suitcases,” Van Horn said. “That’s only the start. Then you have to try and beat someone who’s hanging out in their own room and nothing’s changed.
“They need to see that because you don’t want your first road trip to be your opening conference weekend.”
Arkansas’ trip to the West Coast also should help the Razorbacks’ recruiting efforts in that region. Arkansas has attracted a string of players from California in recent years, including junior catcher James McCann and freshman infielder/outfielder Dominic Ficociello.
“Got a lot of friends coming, so I’ve got to get them tickets,” said Ficociello, who graduated last year from Fullerton (Calif.) Union High School. “It’s just like any other day on the field and getting the ‘W’. When we come back from San Diego, the idea is to be 14-1.”
Ficociello and senior outfielder/designated hitter Kyle Robinson have been two of the early surprises for the Razorbacks, who have swept three-game series from Delaware State, Utah and Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Ficociello has raised his average to .394 after starting the season 1 for 11, and Robinson leads the Razorbacks with a .465 average, including 3 home runs and 21 RBI.
Robinson was selected the SEC Player of the Week after batting .474 (9 for 19) in five games last week.
“He’s got 21 RBI in 11 games, and that’s pretty good,” Van Horn said. “Hopefully he can keep it up, and I’d like some other guys to pick him up. That’s what we really need.”
San Diego State has lost nine of its past 10, including three consecutive after Tuesday’s 12-9 loss at Cal State Northridge. The Aztecs have a .237 team batting average and are allowing an average of 6.25 runs per game.
“We’ve never played San Diego State, but I’m sure [Gwynn] runs his team like a professional type team,” Van Horn said. “I imagine they’re a bunt-and-run type team, but it’s really more about how we perform.
“That’s what we’re focusing on.”Today’s game
ARKANSAS AT SAN DIEGO STATE WHEN 8 p.m. Central WHERE Tony Gwynn Stadium, San Diego RECORDS Arkansas 10-1; San Diego State 2-10 RADIO RSP statewide radio network, which includes KQSM-FM, 92.1, in Fayetteville; KURM-AM, 790, and KURM-FM, 100.3, in Bentonville-Rogers; KABZ-FM, 103.7, in Little Rock; KASR-FM, 92.7, in Conway; KHGG-FM, 103.1, in Fort Smith;
KELD-FM, 106.5, in El Dorado; and KOMT-FM, 107.5, in Mountain Home.
Not all games will be carried by affiliates.
Check local listings.
INTERNET www.arkansasrazorbacks.com (go to Razorvision link).
PITCHING MATCHUPS Arkansas: Ryne Stanek (RHP, 0-0,5.02 ERA). San Diego State: Steven Moranda (RHP, 0-1, 4.26 ERA). Stanek has allowed 11 hits and 8 earned runs in 14 1/3 innings, which includes 2 starts.
SHORT HOPS A victory today will equal Arkansas’ best start since 2008, when the Razorbacks opened with an 11-1 mark. Arkansas finished the 2008 season 34-24, including 14-15 in the SEC.
... Junior outfielder Collin Kuhn should return to the lineup after missing two games against Wisconsin-Milwaukee because of a sore wrist. ... Sophomore DJ Baxendale, who will likely start Friday, is 3-0 with two saves and has yet to allow an earned run in 14 1/3 innings.
... Tony Gwynn is 234-240 in eight seasons as head coach at San Diego State.
... The Aztecs finished 28-28 last season, including 13-11 in the Mountain West Conference.
THE WEEK AHEAD TODAY at San Diego State, 8 p.m.
FRIDAY at San Diego State, 8 p.m.
SATURDAY at San Diego State, 8 p.m.
SUNDAY at San Diego State, 3 p.m.
MONDAY off TUESDAY vs. Kansas, 3:05 p.m.
WEDNESDAY off
Sports, Pages 22 on 03/10/2011