Arkansas' defense stands out again

Arkansas first baseman Brady Slavens (17) brings in a ball and Mississippi State's Brayland Skinner is called out during a game Friday, March 26, 2021, in Starkville, Miss. (Photo courtesy Mississippi State Athletics, via Pool)

Arkansas’ play in the field has earned great reviews from opposing coaches all season.

The No. 2 Razorbacks entered Friday’s series opener at No. 4 Mississippi State fielding .984, four points better than any other team in the SEC.

“They defend like maniacs,” Louisiana Tech coach Lane Burroughs said at the conclusion of his team’s series against the Razorbacks on March 14. “I’ve never seen a team defend the field like them.”

Alabama coach Brad Bohannon heaped more praise on Arkansas’ fielders prior to last week’s series in Fayetteville.

“They play elite defense,” Bohannon said. “They are clearly, by far the best defensive team in our league.”

Arkansas had another clean game in the field — with some style points added — during its 8-2 victory over Mississippi State at Dudy Noble Field on Friday.

Christian Franklin’s diving catch to rob Kamren James of a leadoff hit in the sixth inning was the web gem, but there were a number of other notable defensive plays. Middle infielders Jalen Battles and Robert Moore each made throws on the run to their left to force out a runner at first base, and the duo teamed for a 6-4-3 double play in the fourth inning.

And the Razorbacks’ infielders and outfielders were routinely in great position to make plays — some that covered a good bit of ground — that helped limit Mississippi State to four hits.

“We played outstanding defense,” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. “Battles made a play up the middle that was unbelievable. Robert made a nice play to his left. Franklin made an incredible catch in center field. That was big because the game wasn’t…in control yet. That was their leadoff hitter, so that ended up being a big play for us. All the way around, we fielded the ball, pitched well and obviously we got some big hits.”

Franklin’s diving catch came on the third pitch from reliever Peyton Pallette.

“I think Peyton probably relaxed a little bit after that and said, 'Hey, these guys are good behind me. I'm going to let them work,’” Van Horn said.

Pallette and starter Patrick Wicklander pitched to contact for much of Friday’s game. Twenty-one of Mississippi State’s outs were on balls in play.

“It’s a huge confidence boost, a lot more trust,” Wicklander said of the defense during the postgame radio show on Razorback Sports Network. “It just lets us throw strikes. You know the ball’s going to be hit.

"It’s just a confidence booster on the mound, able to get ahead of guys and force more swings.”

Pallette, a former high school infielder who still likes to take infield with his teammates, even made a nice play on a ball hit back to the mound by Lane Forsythe to end the seventh inning.

“They play really good defense and played really good defense tonight, ” Mississippi State center fielder Rowdey Jordan said. “That is one of the frustrating things that is going on with us. Offensively, we hit some balls really hard and they made good plays."

Franklin heats up

The diving catch in center field was one of three highlights for Franklin on Friday.

He hit solo home runs during the first and fourth innings to give the Razorbacks leads of 3-0 and 4-0.

Franklin was the latest Arkansas hitter to perform well after taking a game off. Cayden Wallace reached base in 8 of 10 plate appearances during the first two games of a series at Louisiana Tech after sitting the game before, and Matt Goodheart had a season-high four hits in the second game of the Memphis series this week, one day after sitting out against the Tigers.

“I think it’s always good to be able to have a day off, get some rest and get your feet underneath you, especially after you play so many games,” Franklin said. “Just to get that little bit of a break was big in order to be ready, be fresh this weekend.”

Van Horn said he saw a big performance coming from Franklin during practice in Starkville the night before.

“He was hitting the ball hard on the line, on the ground, out of the park,” Van Horn said, “and he picked it up right where he left off last night in batting practice."

Packed house

Mississippi State had an official listed attendance of 6,115 Friday, but it appeared there were thousands more in the ballpark that can hold more than 13,000.

“We were told they were going to be able to max out at (8,000), but I was told on the bus that they had 12,000 there tonight,” Van Horn said. “I was laughing at (8,000). There's no way there was (8,000). I projected 12,000 to 14,000 there tonight. There were a lot of people there. It was fun."

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves lifted all covid-19 restrictions earlier this month, but Mississippi State and Ole Miss have kept attendance caps below maximum capacity at their home ballparks. While there were some empty seats visible Friday, it appeared the majority were full.

“It was an electric crowd,” Franklin said. “Going in there we knew it was going to be a tough situation to be in that environment, and I think the team did a real good job of not getting sped up in those situations.”

Arkansas quieted the big crowd with three home runs by Goodheart, Wallace and Franklin in the top of the first inning. The Razorbacks kept the crowd from becoming a factor, similar to the way Alabama did last Friday with a 10-run second inning during a 16-1 victory over Arkansas at Baum-Walker Stadium.

“It was a little bit louder, there were more people there than there were last Friday,” Franklin said. “I didn’t know there were 12,000 people there — it seemed like there were a ton — but it was fun to play in, for sure.”

Streaks snapped

Arkansas ended an eight-game losing streak at Dudy Noble Field.

Prior to Friday, the Razorbacks’ last victory in Starkville came in 2014 during the series opener — the first game of a doubleheader. Mississippi State won the second game of the doubleheader, then won the series finale the following day.

The Bulldogs swept Arkansas at Dudy Noble in 2016 and 2018. The eight-game losing streak was the Razorbacks’ longest active streak at an SEC ballpark.

The long losing streak wasn’t the only streak to come to an end Friday. Arkansas’ victory ensured the road team in the series won’t be swept for the first time since 2015.

In addition to being swept in their previous two trips to Starkville, the Razorbacks swept the Bulldogs in Fayetteville in 2017 and 2019. The teams did not play last season due to the covid-19 shutdown.

Arkansas can win the series with a victory Saturday or Sunday. The road team has not won a series between the Razorbacks and Bulldogs since 2012, when Arkansas swept Mississippi State in Starkville.

Short hops

• Arkansas has held its opponent to two or fewer hits through eight innings in its past three games vs. SEC teams. Alabama had one hit entering the ninth inning last Saturday, and two hits entering the ninth last Sunday. Mississippi State had two hits entering the ninth Friday and finished with four hits.

• The Razorbacks hit three home runs in the same inning for the second time in three games. Arkansas hit three homers during a nine-run eighth inning in its series opener against Memphis.

• Patrick Wicklander has allowed 2 runs and 4 hits in 10 1/3 innings against SEC competition this season. Wicklander struggled some with command by walking 4 batters and hitting 1 batter in 5 innings Friday.