FAYETTEVILLE - Arkansas’ schedule hits another big peak this weekend when the Razorbacks hit the road to take on three time College World Series finalist South Carolina in Columbia, S.C.
The Gamecocks (18-3, 2-1 SEC), ranked No. 5 by Baseball America, and Razorbacks (14-8, 1-2), ranked No. 21 in the same poll, last met in a College World Series bracket final last June, with two-time national champion South Carolina coming away with a 2-1 series victory.
“I think it’s turned into a good rivalry,” said Arkansas right-hander Barrett Astin (1-1, 1.90 ERA), who is scheduled to start tonight against South Carolina right-hander Evan Beal (2-0, 0.56). “We respect them, they respect us. We like playing each other.”
Arkansas’ hitting and defense haven’t been consistent since the Razorbacks were swept in four games at the Coca-Cola Classic in Surprise, Ariz, three weeks ago. The Razorbacks are 5-6 since then, which included a four-game sweep of San Diego State at Baum Stadium.
Arkansas’ coaches are still tinkering with personnel, reinserting Astin into the rotation and possibly shuffling the infield. Junior Dominic Ficociello, who has been slowed with an intercostal muscle injury in his ribcage, hit a couple of balls hard last Friday, and his presence at second base and as a switch hitter in the lineup is needed.
“His joy for competing and what he brings to the dugout, I think we really have missed him,” Arkansas assistant coach Todd Butler said. “Not talking about production or how many hits he gets or how many RBIs - his energy to play the game. We really need him in the lineup this weekend.”
Junior Brian Anderson has worked at shortstop some this week, which might allow Jacob Mahan to move to third base and get Ficociello back in the order. Anderson has played mostly third base and in the outfield while transfer Brett McAfee has started 19 games at shortstop.
“I’ve been working a little more at short,” Anderson said. “I think we’re still comfortable with McAfee at short. … It’s really up to the coaches. I mean, I’m comfortable out there. If that’s where they want to put me, then I’m fine.”
Arkansas and South Carolina have similar team profiles in batting average and pitching. The Gamecocks are seventh in the SEC with a .286 team batting average, compared to Arkansas, which is eighth at .284. Arkansas leads the SEC with a 1.81 team ERA, while South Carolina is third at 2.18. The difference is in the field, where the Gamecocks rank second in the conference with a .979 fielding percentage and Arkansas is 13th (.961).
“We must play better defense,” said Butler, who filled in at Arkansas’ weekly news conference this week for Coach Dave Van Horn, who was on the road recruiting. “We know our pitching is as good as anyone in the country.”
This is South Carolina’ first season under Coach Chad Holbrook, who inherited the program from Ray Tanner,who is now the Gamecocks’ athletic director, but there are still links to the program’s repeated runs at College World Series in Omaha, Neb..
Senior left-hander Nolan Belcher (4-1, 1.25 ERA), a postseason veteran scheduled to start Saturday’s 2:15 p.m. game, has thrown 26 consecutive scoreless innings. Senior infielder LB Dantzler (.351 average, 24 RBI), who ranks second in the SEC with seven home runs, sophomore infielder Joey Pankake (.343, 5 HRs, 20 RBI) and sophomore outfielder Tanner English (.324, 3 HRs, 13 RBI) all played key roles in the Gamecocks’ 2012 postseason run. Graham Saiko (.305) and Chase Vergason (.303) are also batting better than .300.
Tyler Webb, a 6-6 senior left-hander, has been almost untouchable out of the bullpen, allowing just five hits and no runs in 131/ 3 innings. He leads the SEC with eight saves.
Arkansas also has five regulars hitting at least .300: Tyler Spoon (.364, 3 HRs, 26 RBI), Matt Vinson (.324, 6 RBI), Mahan (.322, 1 HR, 9 RBI), Anderson (.321, 16 RBI) and Joe Serrano (.313, 1 HR, 11 RBI), and freshman Jordan Farris (.350).
Today’s game
ARKANSAS AT SOUTH CAROLINA WHEN 6:30 p.m. Central WHERE Carolina Stadium, Columbia, S.C.
RECORDS Arkansas 14-8, 1-2 SEC; South Carolina 18-3, 2-1 TV Comcast Sports Southeast; Cox Sports Television in Northwest Arkansas (check listings).
RADIO Razorback Sports Network, which includes KABZ-FM, 103.7, Little Rock;
KQSM-FM, 92.1, Fayetteville; KURMAM, 790, Bentonville-Rogers; KASRFM, 92.7, Conway; KHGG-FM, 103.1, Fort Smith; KELD-FM, 106.5, El Dorado;
KOMT-FM, 107.5, Mountain Home. Not all games will be carried by affiliates.
Check local listings.
INTERNET www.arkansasrazorbacks.comand espn3.com PITCHING MATCHUP Arkansas: RHP Barrett Astin (1-1, 1.90 ERA); South Carolina: RHP Evan Beal (2-0, 0.56 ERA) SHORT HOPS South Carolina won 4 of 6 games against the Razorbacks last season, taking 2 of 3 in Fayetteville (May 4-6) and at the College World Series.
… Arkansas juggled its weekend rotation again with Ryne Stanek (1-1, 3.32) moving up to Saturday, Randall Fant (1-0, 1.12), moving back to Sunday and freshman Trey Killian (2-2, 3.38) moving to the bullpen.
THE WEEK AHEAD
TODAY at South Carolina, 6:30 p.m.
SATURDAY at South Carolina, 2:15 p.m.
SUNDAY at South Carolina, 12:30 p.m.
MONDAY off TUESDAY Miss. Valley St., 6:35 p.m.
WEDNESDAY Miss. Valley St.*, 7:05 p.m.
THURSDAY off * At Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock
Sports, Pages 19 on 03/22/2013