FAYETTEVILLE — The storm system that moved through Northwest Arkansas and produced multiple tornadoes Wednesday also wreaked havoc on the Arkansas baseball team.
The Razorbacks were traveling west on Interstate 40, on their way back to Fayetteville after a 7-3 win at Memphis, when their bus drove into the storm. Near a construction zone at Russellville, strong winds blew debris over the road and caused the bus to swerve.
“When that wind hit the bus, it was spooky,” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. “That bus driver was holding onto that wheel with two hands and I was right there asking if he needed some help. It made me nervous.”
Van Horn said that the players that had fallen asleep woke up, but some were already awake.
“We were playing a card game in the back, so I was up,” pitcher Zach Jackson said. “I couldn’t tell if the bus driver just saw something in the road or if it was really that windy. It got a little bit scary.”
Despite the weather, Arkansas made it home safely around 2:45 a.m. Thursday, less than 16 hours before a conference game against Ole Miss.
Most players slept in, but still didn’t get a full night’s rest. Arkansas was able to turn in its best game of the season, however, beating Ole Miss 10-3 at Baum Stadium.
“I thought we looked a little sluggish during pregame and as soon as the game started, something just clicked,” outfielder Joe Serrano said. “Everyone got into that killer mentality.”
Thursday’s game was the Razorbacks’ third game in three days in three different cities. Arkansas played Memphis in North Little Rock on Tuesday before Wednesday’s game in Memphis.
It was the first time Arkansas has had a stretch like that since playing four games in four days in four different cities in 1995, with games in San Jose, California; Stillwater, Oklahoma; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Fayetteville.