Tempe Regional report

Hogs get more out of Moore

Arkansas’ Collin Kuhn drives in Tim Carver with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third inning Friday, scoring the Razorbacks first run in their 3-2 loss to Charlotte in the NCAA regional in Tempe, Ariz. Kuhn was hit by a pitch in his first plate appearance, the 14th time he’s been struck this season.

— Arkansas right-hander Brandon Moore is finishing his freshman season with a surge.

Moore turned in another strong relief performance Friday during the Razorbacks’ 3-2 loss to Charlotte in the Tempe Regional of the NCAA Tournament. Moore pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of starter Randall Fant, who allowed four hits and left after two innings.

“Brandon Moore came in and did a tremendous job,” Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. “He did everything we could ever want and gave us a shot.”

Moore also turned in a standout relief effort in the SEC Tournament after Alabama jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning against Fant. Moore pitched 81/3 innings in that game to keep it close, but Arkansas lost 7-4.

Moore allowed three hits and struck out three against Charlotte before being relieved by freshman Barrett Astin, who pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

“In the bullpen, we just try to pick up each other,” said Moore, who has started 11 games this season. “Barrett came in behind me and our defense made some good plays behind us.” Kuhn conked

Some things never change for Collin Kuhn, no matter where he plays.

Kuhn was hit by a pitch in his first plate appearance Friday against Charlotte right-hander Andrew Smith.

Kuhn set a school record last season when he was hit by a pitch 25 times.

He’s been hit 14 times this season, which moves him within two of Jack Welsh, who holds Arkansas’ career mark after being hit by a pitch 52 times from 1997-2000.

What about us?

Arkansas Razorbacks fans are used to having their sports teams covered prominently by the local media.

That’s not the case with Arizona State and Charlotte, which have to fight for coverage with professional teams in their large media markets.

Friday’s sports section of the Arizona Republic was filled with stories about the Arizona Diamondbacks, the NBA Finals and columns on the retirement of former Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O’Neal.

The first mention of the Tempe Regional came on Page 7C, and that article received less space than a preview story on the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercy.

Charlotte’s sports information director, Ryan Rose, made the trip with the 49ers, but there were no local television or newspaper reporters in Tempe to cover the 49ers.

“We’re a pro sports town, and we’re in the middle of ACC [Atlantic Coast Conference] country,” Rose said. “We’re an Atlantic-10 team, so it’s really hard to get coverage.” Don’t sweat West

Charlotte Coach Loren Hibbs said earlier this week that playing out west for his team meant playing someone in Arkansas or Kansas.

The 49ers certainly looked right at home Friday afternoon while playing in the real West, where 100-degree temperatures are routine in the Tempe area.

Charlotte starting pitcher Andrew Miller was still pitching well when he was taken out in the eighth inning of a 3-2 victory over the Razorbacks.

“The heat here is not as bad as back in Charlotte, where you’re dripping sweat,” Smith said. “It was hot, but I kind of like it.”

Sports, Pages 28 on 06/04/2011