OMAHA, Neb. — Arkansas freshman right hander Connor Noland will start Monday’s 1 p.m. elimination game against Texas Tech at the College World Series.
Noland (3-5, 4.00 ERA) is coming off one of his shortest outings of the season, a three-out start against Ole Miss in Game 2 of the NCAA Fayetteville Super Regional last Sunday when he allowed four runs.
Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said he is starting Noland because he is rested and because Texas Tech’s lineup includes a number of right-handed hitters. The Red Raiders bat .301 as a team.
“We’ve got everybody available,” Van Horn said. “It’s like anything - if he goes out and gets us a few innings, that’s all we’re looking for. If it’s just two good ones, three good ones, that’s fine; we’ll go get the next guy.”
Van Horn said Noland has had a pattern of following up bad starts with good ones this season. For instance, he didn’t record an out while facing five batters at Vanderbilt on April 13, but threw seven shutout innings the following week against Mississippi State.
The Mississippi State start began a streak of mostly consistent outings for Noland, especially at home. Prior to his short start in the super regional, Noland had a seven-start stretch in which he had a 1.66 ERA, struck out 29 and walked 3 in 38 innings.
Perfect Game named him to its Freshman All-America second team.
Noland said Arkansas’ staff ace, Isaiah Campbell, gave him some advice to help him get ready for Monday’s start.
“He just told me not to worry about that one and move on to the next one,” Noland said. “He told me I have another opportunity in Omaha, and here we are.”
Texas Tech (44-19) has not announced a starter for Monday’s game, but likely will start either sophomore right hander Bryce Bonnin (6-1, 4.42 ERA) or junior right hander Caleb Kilian (8-3, 3.93 ERA).
Bonnin pitched in 11 games at Arkansas last season before transferring to the Red Raiders. Van Horn dismissed a question Sunday about potentially facing Bonnin and Texas Tech infielder Easton Murrell, another Arkansas transfer who has played in four games this postseason.
When discussing Bonnin's transfer last summer, Van Horn said Bonnin had the desire to start, but the Arkansas staff saw him more as a relief pitcher.
Texas Tech coach Tim Tadlock indicated Bonnin could get the ball against the Razorbacks during his meeting with media Sunday morning.
“I think there’s some comfort level with him pitching against their guys probably five or six times, maybe even more,” Tadlock said, referencing scrimmages Bonnin played in while at Arkansas. “I would think there is some motivation there for him.
“I think there is some human element there that wants us all to give the ball to Bryce.”