Changes ahead, Van Horn says

FAYETTEVILLE -- Dave Van Horn says change is coming for the Arkansas baseball team this week.

Van Horn, the 14th year Arkansas coach, said he doesn't know all the details yet, but he said the changes will include a lineup shuffle and a rearranged pitching rotation for the struggling Razorbacks, who begin a four-game road trip to Memphis and Ole Miss on Wednesday.

Arkansas (19-9, 4-5 SEC) had the biggest fall in this week's USA Today coaches poll, from No. 15 to No. 21, after losing three of four games last week, which included dropping a home series to Missouri, which had been winless in the SEC. The Hogs lost the final two games by the combined score of 18-6.

The perplexing recent results from Arkansas' starting pitchers prompted Van Horn to open his remarks at Monday's monthly Swatter's Club meeting at the Hilton Garden Inn by saying, "As far as our pitching, if you have any suggestions, I'm sure you'll tell me."

Dominic Taccolini (3-1), the Friday starter all season, has fallen into a three-start slump in which he's given up 22 hits, 5 walks and 12 earned runs in 9 innings. The junior right-hander's ERA has risen from 2.16 to 4.76 during the stretch of three SEC games.

Keaton McKinney (1-1, 6.07 ERA) threw six shutout innings in a victory over Auburn on March 26, but the sophomore right-hander gave up 6 hits, 4 walks and 4 earned runs while throwing 92 pitches in 3 2/3 innings in Saturday's 8-6 loss to Missouri.

"It was unexpected," Van Horn said of the recent struggles for his top two starters. "I thought these guys were going to be rolling about this time of year when we hit conference play. It doesn't mean they can't turn it around real quick."

Van Horn said he doesn't think the problems for McKinney and Taccolini, who both had surgeries last summer, are physical.

"I think there are some issues going on between those ears and hopefully we can get that straightened out," he said

Van Horn suggested freshman right-hander Barrett Loseke (1-1, 2.61) might stay in the weekend rotation, while preseason All-American Zach Jackson (2-2, 3.68), the would-be closer, might get a start against Ole Miss along with fellow junior James Teague (2-2, 3.12).

"I just kind of want to get some experience out there," he said. "Some guys that maybe have been sitting, like if we went Jackson and we went Teague and we make a decision on whether we're going to go with a youngster on Sunday ... if we were starting tomorrow, we're kind of leaning toward doing that.

"I don't know if Jackson would go Friday or Saturday. ... Teague spot-started last year and did a nice job. I don't know. We're waiting for them to show us something."

Van Horn said he's unsure who will start Wednesday's 6:30 p.m. game against Memphis at AutoZone Park, but that multiple pitchers would probably get a look.

The batting order is certain to change, Van Horn added, with the mostly likely shifts affecting third baseman Carson Shaddy in the No. 3 spot and shortstop Michael Bernal at No. 8.

Bernal, the team leader with 28 RBI, has his average up to .289. Van Horn said he thinks Shaddy, the team leader with a .356 average, is putting too much pressure on himself in the third spot.

"You'll probably see me move Shaddy back to the two hole," Van Horn said after Sunday's 10-1 loss to Missouri.

Junior Austin Catron, newly re-inserted into the lineup at designated hitter, was one of the bright spots in the series loss to Missouri, going 6 for 10 with a home run and a two-run triple off Tigers ace Tanner Houck. Center fielder Clark Eagan went 6 of 12 in the leadoff spot in the series.

Arkansas struggled in the clutch against the Tigers, hitting 35 of 135 (.259) overall, 11 of 54 (.204) with runners in scoring position, 19 of 83 (.229) with runners on base and 0 of 5 with the bases loaded.

"We'll make a few changes this weekend," Van Horn said. "There may be a lot of changes, and the reason is why not? It can't hurt. We need to figure something out. That's the way I look at it, and the players already know it."

Sports on 04/05/2016