Hog Calls

Pitching not consistent enough for UA

Starter Dominic Taccolini of Arkansas is congratulated after the final out of the sixth inning against LSU Thursday, March 19, 2015, at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Two And A Half Men was the title of a long running TV show on CBS.

Three And a Half Men might be the current title of the Arkansas Razorbacks' pitching staff, a title that had better not run long lest these Razorbacks become the first Dave Van Horn-coached Arkansas team not advancing to NCAA Regionals.

Their current 11-11 overall/1-5 SEC records would not extend their season if bids were extended today instead of May.

Including three times to the College World Series, Van Horn's Razorbacks always have advanced to the NCAA postseason since he was hired in 2003 to succeed Norm DeBriyn, the Hall of Famer under whom Van Horn played then coached.

Van Horn and pitching coach Dave Jorn, Van Horn's only Arkansas pitching coach and DeBriyn's Arkansas pitching coach from 1983-1988, always had the Razorbacks well-armed to pitch their way into the postseason.

They have had a remarkable run with great staffs headed by All-Americans Nick Schmidt, Jess Todd, Ryne Stanek and Barrett Astin among others and always finding ample arms to replace those turned pro.

This year, though, with returning junior Trey Killian unable to pitch early in the season because of tendonitis, Van Horn and Jorn have been hard put to replace Jalen Beeks, Chris Oliver and Michael Gunn, who all turned pro after last season.

Killian looks back in form after a seven-inning start at Vanderbilt in which he didn't allow a hit and a six-inning outing on Saturday that kept Arkansas only down 3-1 in a game it eventually lost 7-4 to LSU.

Starter Dominic Taccolini and reliever Zach Jackson beat No. 1 LSU 5-1 last Thursday. With Killian, they make three reliables. Closer Jacob Stone, who was 4-0 with a 0.94 ERA and four saves last year, has struggled this year with a 1-2 record and a 4.97 ERA.

Hence the "Three And A Half Men," that Arkansas can call upon comfortably. Pitching to that moniker can keep Arkansas competitive twice of thrice on a SEC weekend, (LSU romped 16-3 Friday) but manifests maladies midweek for nonconference games.

Walks hurt most. In 193 2/3 innings Arkansas has walked 110 and hit 30 by pitches compared to 210 walks and 59 hit batsmen for last year's 575 1/3 innings.

The new lowered seam college baseball carries further than last year's but free passes more than home runs account for Arkansas' bloated 4.93 ERA compared to last year's 2.63.

Lack of pitching depth jeopardizes Arkansas' postseason even with Van Horn fielding one of his best-ever defensive teams, especially junior Bobby Wernes, "the best third baseman I ever coached," Van Horn said.

Defense can help immensely if Van Horn and Jorn somehow find more pitching to make the Hogs all-week competitive.

Unlike the pros who can be traded, their search is limited.

"We've got to find them in the group we have," Van Horn said. "So far it hasn't gone very well, obviously."

Sports on 03/23/2015