SC sweep is sweet for Hogs

FAYETTEVILLE — Finally, after finishing off a sweep of South Carolina, Arkansas moved a step closer to an SEC Tournament bid.

In 12-11 and 6-3 victories over the Gamecocks on Friday and Saturday, Arkansas remained a half-game behind for the eighth and final spot in the conference tournament. But Sunday’s 4-2 victory pushed Arkansas (13-13 ) ahead of the Gamecocks (13-14 ) into No. 8 overall in the conference heading into the final three games.

The Razorbacks now can play their way to Hoover, Ala., and not need any help. Winning two of three at last-place Mississippi State would all but guarantee them a berth. If the tournament started today — it begins May 21 — the Razorbacks would play SEC overall champion Georgia. Four teams — Alabama, Ole Miss, Kentucky and Florida — are 14-13, a half-game ahead of Arkansas. “This was a huge win today. There are a lot of teams that have [almost the same ] record, but our goal is to make it to postseason,” second baseman Ben Tschepikow said. “We can’t control what other teams do, so we have to go out and get a couple wins and see what happens.” During Sunday’s postgame huddle, Coach Dave Van Horn both congratulated and forewarned the players after their impressive sweep. “We still have a lot of work to do,” Van Horn said as he recapped his chat. “Great weekend, but you get what you deserve, and if you deserve it, you’ll get in next week.”

Up in Smoak Arkansas starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel had to shake his head in pregame warmups Sunday watching Gamecocks first baseman Justin Smoak and shortstop Reese Havens, two potential first-round draft picks, and fellow sluggers James Darnell and Phil Disher. “You look at them take batting practice and they’re smashing balls off the scoreboard,” said Keuchel, Sunday’s winning pitcher who, like the rest of Arkansas’ pitchers this weekend, handled South Carolina’s big four rather well. “As a pitcher, you have respect for them, but you try to attack them.” Smoak (entering the series batting. 405 with 19 home runs and 56 RBI ), Havens (. 376, 13, 46 ), Disher (. 310, 16, 47 ) and Darnell (. 308, 15, 67 ) went a combined 12 for 48 (. 250 ) with 2 home runs and only 6 RBI in the three games. “What we did is they didn’t have a lot of opportunities to drive runs in,” Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. “And when they did, our pitchers did a good job.”

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Wilkins solid After missing 20 games with a strained rib cage muscle, Arkansas freshman Andy Wilkins was deemed healthy enough to swing a bat and get some playing time in the South Carolina series. “I just told him one thing: ‘ I don’t want to hear that your timing’s off. You need to step in like you were doing before you were injured, ’” hitting coach Todd Butler said.

It turned out even better than expected when Wilkins went 6 for 12 with 3 runs and 2 RBI in the series, including a two-run double in the third inning Sunday that represented the winning runs.

“I felt really good. There are some times when it hurts, but it’s nothing to keep me out. Just some aches and pains,” said Wilkins, who started at first base all three games. “I was kind of nervous going in [Friday’s game ], and it felt like my first time again. But going 4 for 5 that day was a big boost of confidence, and it carried into the weekend.”