Arkansas Baseball Notebook - April 28
Arkansas Baseball Notebook
April 28, 2008
Week: 4-1
Overall Record: 26-18
Tuesday, April 22: Arkansas 9, Northern Colorado 2
Wednesday, April 23: Arkansas 7, Northern Colorado 1
Friday, April 25: #21 Mississippi 12, Arkansas 4
Saturday, April 26: Arkansas 13, #21 Mississippi 11 (10 innings)
Saturday, April 26: Arkansas 12, #21 Mississippi 4
Noting the Razorbacks
The Razorbacks had their best week since early March by going 4-1 over the past five games and are starting to put things together with seven wins in their past nine games … Arkansas picked up two mid-week wins against Northern Colorado, then took two of three from #21 Mississippi including a double-header sweep on Saturday … The Razorbacks series win against the Rebels is their first since the 2003 season and their first in Oxford since 2002 … Arkansas’ weekend victories put it 1.5 games behind Ole Miss for the top spot in the SEC West as it prepared to host Alabama over the weekend … Third baseman Logan Forsythe had a monster weekend at the plate going 7-11 (.636) with five runs scored, eight RBI, three home runs and a sacrifice fly … Forsythe’s RBI total (8) nearly matched his season total entering the weekend and gives him 17 on the year … Forsythe also tripled his home run numbers with three giving him four on the year and his three-run shot in the third game was the game-winning hit … Utility infielder Tim Smalling also had a breakout series against the Rebels going 5-15 with four home runs … Smalling’s home run total against the Rebels matched his total from the 2007 season and gives him eight home runs on the year … Smalling hit three home runs in Arkansas’ 13-11 victory over the Rebels and drove in six RBI … For the week, Chase Leavitt continued his nine-game hitting streak and has improved his season average to .355 … Leavitt went 10-16 over five games this week with seven runs scored, two doubles, a home run and five RBI … Leavitt was able to increase his streak despite getting just one at bat in the second Ole Miss game, a single through the right side … On the mound, Cliff Springston pitched Arkansas’ first complete game victory late Saturday night, throwing all nine innings and allowing four runs on 11 hits … The victory for Springston was his first since mid-March when he defeated the Georgia Bulldogs at home … Springston had a career-high nine strikeouts in the victory and walked just three.
Hitter of the Week Nominee
Logan Forsythe * Junior
Memphis, Tenn./Christian Brothers
· Batted a team high .636 (7-11) in the Ole Miss Series with five runs, three home runs and eight RBI.
· Also walked three times for a .688 on-base percentage and slugged 1.545.
· Hit two home runs in Arkansas’ series clinching victory late Saturday night and one in the Saturday afternoon contest.
· Forsythe’s three-run blast in the sixth inning was the game-winning hit in the nightcap.
· His eight RBI in the Ole Miss Series nearly matched his total for the season (9) entering the weekend.
· His three home runs tripled his season output (1 coming in) prior to playing Ole Miss.
· For the week hit .471 over five games.
· Raised his season batting average to .318.
· Is currently in a four-game hitting streak, his second longest of the year.
· Helped Arkansas secure its third series victory against a ranked opponent in three weeks, second on the road.
· The Razorbacks won its first series in Oxford since 2002 with the doubleheader sweep on Saturday.
Pitcher of the Week Nominee
Cliff Springston * Junior
Lorena, Texas/Lorena/Baylor
· Notched Arkansas’ first complete game win of the season against #21 Mississippi in Saturday’s nightcap.
· Pitched a career high nine innings and struck out a career high nine in the effort.
· The win was Springston’s second in SEC play and clinched Arkansas’ first series win in Oxford since 2002.
· His line for the week, 9.0 IP, 11 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 9 K
· Ran into trouble a couple of times and pitched his way out of the jam.
Next Week
The Razorbacks play a single mid-week game against Missouri State on Wednesday before hosting Alabama in a critical Southeastern Conference weekend series. The Hogs need wins if it hopes to make it into the SEC Tournament and Alabama currently sits ahead of Arkansas in the Western Division Rankings. Game times for the week are 6:35 for Wednesday and Friday, 2:05 for Saturday and 12:05 for Sunday.
Wednesday, April 30: Missouri State at Arkansas, 6:35 p.m.
Friday, May 2: Alabama at Arkansas, 6:35 p.m.
Saturday, May 3: Alabama at Arkansas, 2:05 p.m.
Sunday, May 4: Alabama at Arkansas, 1:05 p.m.
