COLLEGE BASEBALL : Hogs cruise to victory in finale

BY RICK FIRES

Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/adg/226318/

FAYETTEVILLE — Now the wait begins.

Arkansas ended the regular season with a 12-6 victory over Western Illinois Monday before 1, 120 at Baum Stadium. The game was an anticlimactic finish after the Razorbacks were eliminated from the SEC Tournament after losing 2 of 3 at Mississippi State last week.

Arkansas (34-22 ) must now wait and hope for an invitation to the NCAA Tournament, which will be announced Monday, May 26. The Razorbacks are on the bubble after missing the SEC Tournament, but they at least finish the season with seven victories in their last 10 games. How a team finishes the regular season is among several factors NCAA committee members will consider when selecting the 64-team f ield for the tournament.

Arkansas last failed to make the SEC and NCAA Tournament in 2001.

“Not knowing is the toughest thing, but we’ll just take it dayby-day,” freshman Andy Wilkins said of the players’ approach while waiting to see if their season will continue. “We’ll be practicing throughout the week and praying every night that we make it in.”

Western Illinois (20-31 ) put up little resistance early in a game that was scheduled only days ago so Arkansas could reach its 56-game limit for the regular season. Arkansas built an 11-0 lead before the Leathernecks roughed up reliever Evan Cox while scoring five runs in the sixth inning.

Sam Murphy (3-2 ) pitched five scoreless innings for the victory while the loss went to Western Illinois starter Frank Zenisek (2-5 ). Travis Hill went four innings to earn his fourth save for the Razorbacks.

“[Western Illinois ] has played in some big venues and they’re not intimidated,” Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. “They’re scrappy and I’m just glad we came out and put together a good first inning. Murphy gave us five strong innings and allowed us to relax a little bit.”

Wilkins hit a home run in the first inning to help Arkansas to a 4-0 lead. Casey Coon had a single with two runners on base in the inning and all three scored when the ball rolled past Kenny Price in right field.

Western Illinois now advances to the Summit League Tournament in Tulsa, where the Leathernecks are the No. 3 seed.