Murphy accepts role, makes Arkansas hard to beat in midweek

Arkansas pitcher Kacey Murphy throws a pitch during a game against Texas on Tuesday, March 13, 2018, in Fayetteville.

— The midweek starter role isn't college baseball's most glamorous, but Kacey Murphy is filling it well.

Murphy, the Arkansas junior left-hander, earned his second midweek win of the season Tuesday in the Razorbacks' 13-4 win over Texas at Baum Stadium. Murphy allowed 2 runs - both homers - on 5 hits and struck out 3 in 6 innings.

"I thought Kacey Murphy gave us what we wanted," Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. "He didn't walk anybody...and got us off to a good start throwing the ball over the plate."

Murphy, who is a combined 7-1 with a 3.03 ERA over the past two seasons, could be Arkansas' third weekend starter behind Blaine Knight and Isaiah Campbell, but coaches have found value in his Tuesday and Wednesday starts, especially considering the types of opponents the Razorbacks are playing on those nights.

On Feb. 21, Murphy pitched six innings and allowed one hit in Arkansas' 1-0 win over Arizona in San Diego. The Razorbacks have remaining midweek games this season against the likes of No. 5 Texas Tech and Missouri State, the regional foe that eliminated Arkansas from the NCAA regional at Baum a year ago.

"His attitude has been good," Van Horn said of Murphy not pitching exclusively on weekends. "We told him at the beginning of the year that he would pitch some on Tuesdays, maybe out of the pen on the weekend and maybe start some on the weekend. He said, 'Hey, whatever, I just want to win.' That's what we want.

"We knew our midweek schedule was tough....Hopefully it'll all round into shape and we keep winning some games and it'll pay off in the end."

Murphy found his niche pitching the midweek last season when he started six times on Tuesday or Wednesday. Murphy had a 1.42 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings.

"We didn't lose a midweek game last year and part of that was because Kacey Murphy went out there and accepted his role," Arkansas pitching coach Wes Johnson said just before the season. "We told him, 'Kacey, look, we've got to take care of business in the midweek.'"

"I accept any role they give me," Murphy said. "I just take it as the season has started and it's my turn to pitch."

Murphy shut down Texas for three innings before the Razorbacks' bats finished off the Longhorns with seven runs in the bottom of the third. Murphy needed only 35 pitches in the first three innings, including 20 through two.

He didn't allow a run until Zach Zubia hit a solo home run with two outs in the fourth. It snapped a streak of 13 2/3 innings without an earned run to begin the season.

"He threw a lot of strikes, three pitches for strikes," Texas coach David Pierce said. "He really commanded the ball and really competed well."

Murphy had been struggling with his slider, but it became an out pitch when Texas hitters chased his changeup early in counts.

"It really was nice to see that pitch working," Murphy said of the slider.

He also made a couple of solid defensive plays. In the fifth he called off the infield on a popup from Texas eight-hole hitter Jake McKenzie, and on his final pitch Murphy began an inning-ending double play when he fielded a grounder from Kody Clemens and threw to shortstop Jax Biggers covering second base.

"He made a really nice play on that ground ball hit hard back at him," Van Horn said. "He’s a good defender, one of our better fielding pitchers. He kind of showed that tonight."

Van Horn said Murphy will be able to pitch out of the bullpen if needed Sunday against No. 4 Kentucky. He threw 78 pitches against the Longhorns.

"They have some pretty good left-handed hitters," Van Horn said. "That was our plan was to have him ready for Sunday."