TULSA — Arkansas coaches were reluctant to label Tuesday’s nonconference game as a must-win.

Coach Dave Van Horn said Sunday that beating Oral Roberts “would be huge,” but he also noted his team’s power rating number was solid for a possible NCAA Tournament at-large berth and that several looming home games would provide the season’s defining moments.

Arkansas fans better hope he’s right, because a lethargic 12-2 loss to Oral Roberts on Tuesday at J. L. Johnson Stadium won’t help the Razorbacks’ cause if they end up on the postseason bubble in May. The Golden Eagles (25-8 ), who have a better Rating Percentage Index number than the Razorbacks (19-16 ), completed a season sweep in the teams’ annual two-game series by a cumulative 21-6 score.

“This week it really was a massacre,” Van Horn said.

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The Razorbacks took 2 of 3 at then 25 th-ranked Florida over the weekend and have a favorable schedule remaining as they try to play their way into the SEC Tournament and an NCAA berth. But the two losses to Oral Roberts continued a disappointing nonconference effort.

The Razorbacks have come up short against quality opponents out of the SEC, losing 4 of 5 games against ranked teams Arizona State, Nebraska and Texas A&M, all on the road.

“Yeah, we want to win the game, but the games on the weekends are more important, obviously, and we’re thin this year and we have to try to focus on those,” Van Horn said. “But it’s not an excuse to go out and get beat like we did tonight.”

The Eagles outhit the Razorbacks only 13-9, but four Arkansas pitchers — Kendall Korbal (0-5 ), Travis Hill, Chad Pierce and Evan Cox — walked 7 batters, hit 3 more and threw 2 wild pitches.

In the sixth inning, ORU scored six times on two hits as Arkansas contributed four of its total walks issued, two of its three hit batters and both wild pitches. ORU senior Kelly Minissale (1-1 ), a career. 307 hitter who had

2 pitched all of 13 / 3 innings with a 7. 24 ERA before Tuesday, threw a complete game, allowing 8 hits, 8 strikeouts and only 1 walk in 133 pitches. Two moments stood out in Arkansas’ futility. In the second, an error by Oral Roberts shortstop Adam Younger provided an opportunity. But Jacob House, who reached on the error, strayed too far off second and was picked off by Minissale for the third out. Van Horn flopped his arms down in disgust in the third-base coaching box, then followed House around and lectured the freshman as he grabbed his glove and cap between innings. “That was frustrating and he got picked off last week, and that’s what I told [House ]. ‘A week ago tonight you were picked off the same way. You’re a freshman, but you learn week to week,’” Van Horn said. “He didn’t think anyone was near him.”

The frustration mounted in the top of the fifth, which began with promise. The usually light-hitting Nos. 8 and 9 batters, Ryan Cisterna (. 195 ) and Scott Lyons (. 128 ), had consecutive singles. It was still just a three-run game, and the top of the Razorbacks’ order was coming up.

But Sean Jones tried to bunt for a single and popped out during a scoreless inning.

“He’s a good bunter,” Van Horn said. “He can bunt just about anytime he wants, but he pops it up.

“ That’s not winning baseball.” Razorbacks at a glance WHAT Alcorn State vs. Arkansas WHEN 6: 35 p. m. Central today WHERE Baum Stadium, Fayetteville RADIO Arkansas Razorback Baseball Network, which includes KFAY-AM, 1030, in Fayetteville, KURM-AM, 790, in Springdale / Rogers, KWBF-FM, 101. 1, in Little Rock, KHGG-FM, 103. 1, in Fort Smith and KOMT-FM, 107. 5, in Mountain Home PITCHING MATCHUP Freshman Sam Murphy (RHP, 0-2, 5. 50 ERA ) will start for Arkansas. Alcorn State hasn’t announced a starter. SHORT HOPS Inducing double plays has benefited the Razorbacks of late. After recording five in the Florida series last weekend, Arkansas turned two more in the third and fourth innings Tuesday for seven in four games.... Arkansas catcher Ryan Cisterna’s single in the fifth raised his hitting streak to five games and put the junior back over. 200 at. 202.... Tonight’s game was not on the initial 2008 schedule but was added when each team had an opening. Alcorn State is a deceiving 21-7. The Braves are 10-5 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, but eight of their nonconference victories are against non-Division I opponents. Alcorn State won’t help the Razorbacks’ strength of schedule with a 206 Rating Percentage Index simulated ranking entering play Tuesday.... Arkansas ’ series finale against Tennessee on Sunday, originally scheduled for 12: 05 p. m., will start at 1: 05 p. m. since the Volunteers have changed their travel itinerary.

THE WEEK AHEAD TODAY vs. Alcorn State, 6: 35 p. m. THURSDAY off FRIDAY vs. Tennessee, 6: 35 p. m. SATURDAY vs. Tennessee, 2: 05 p. m. SUNDAY vs. Tennessee, 12: 05 p. m. MONDAY off TUESDAY vs. Northern Colorado, 6: 35 p. m. Tuesday’s SEC scores Georgia 9, E. Tennessee St. 8 Florida State 4, Florida 2 Kentucky 9, Cincinnati 4 Vanderbilt 8, Lipscomb 1 South Carolina 14, USC Upstate 4 LSU 11, Nicholls State 2 Middle Tennessee 13, Tennessee 6 Mississippi State 6, Mississippi 5 Oral Roberts 12, Arkansas 2