FAYETTEVILLE — While it rained, his Razorbacks rested.
Or at least that was Dave Van Horn’s intention for his University of Arkansas, Fayetteville baseball team after Friday’s doubleheader split with Ole Miss completed nine games in 11 days in four different cities.
The coach threatened locking up both Baum Stadium and the Fowler Indoor Training Center to relax the Razorbacks.
He needed only to lock down the Fowler Center. An ocean of rain covering the stadium tarp took care of Baum, though by Sunday some Hogs might have donned scuba gear just to play.
Their willingness to work when they need to rest pleases any staff But off this nine games in 11 days run through Fayetteville, North Little Rock, Auburn, Ala., Kansas City and Fayetteville, Van Horn’s Hogs need rest to replenish. They’ve lost four of their six last six SEC games to very good Auburn and Ole Miss teams who certainly played well. But Arkansas fatigue factored, too.
After losing 9-1 Thursday night and 4-1 in the first game of Friday’s doubleheader, a twin-bill because of Saturday’s rain come true forecast, the Razorbacks rebounded from a 3-0 deficit and won, 7-4. They averted what would have been losing this season’s first SEC sweep and next play a 3-game SEC series Thursday through Saturday at Tennessee.
“We’re tired,” Van Horn said after Arkansas salvaged Friday’s doubleheader split. “I told them how proud I was for them fighting through and finding a way to win. I also told them I’m locking this building and the building over there and I don’t want to see them until Monday. I told them we are not practicing Monday either and I’ll see them at 1 o’clock for some early hitting on Tuesday. I don’t want anybody picking up a bat or ball. I told them they need a rest. You could tell there were some smiles.”
And by the reaction of catcher Grant Koch, pitcher-outfielder Evan Lee, and pitcher Jake Reindl, media available after excelling against Ole Miss, some smiles to think they would snooze beyond Saturday.
“He said he’ll be locking it up, but I don’t think a lot of us will be taking the three full days off,” Koch said.
Reindl suggested breaking and entering.
“He’s going to lock it up, but we’re going to have to find a way in,” Reindl said. “We have to work out and get the arms feeling good. So we’ll be back in there.”
Lee concurred.
“He can lock it up but I’m going to find a way in here as well as the other guys,” Lee said. “They love being here. They won’t do as much stuff, but they’ll refine their skills. I know I will.”
A team that has worked so hard to be 34-12 overall and 13-8 in the SEC after last year’s 26-29, 7-23 — the lone losing season in Van Horn’s 15 years in Fayetteville — won’t rest easy even when it easily needs rest.
“We’re tired. I told them how proud I was for them fighting through and finding a way to win. I also told them I’m locking this building and the building over there and I don’t want to see them until Monday. I told them we are not practicing Monday either and I’ll see them at 1 o’clock for some early hitting on Tuesday. I don’t want anybody picking up a bat or ball. I told them they need a rest. You could tell there were some smiles.”
— Dave Van Horn, Arkansas baseball coach, after Arkansas salvaged Friday’s doubleheader split