Arkansas played arguably its best defense of the season over three games in two days at Ole Miss.
The Razorbacks did not commit an error, turned six double plays and had multiple highlight-worthy moments in the field as they won the series against the Rebels.
It was the first SEC weekend without an error for Arkansas, and the double plays were also a team-best in a conference series. During series against Auburn, LSU and Alabama, the Razorbacks combined to turn five double plays and committed six errors.
Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn complimented his team’s defensive play following a 6-4 victory over Ole Miss on Saturday to clinch the series.
“That’s what it takes when you’re trying to win close games,” Van Horn said. “You can’t give them extra outs.”
The Razorbacks (25-6, 8-4 SEC) were solid defensively in the series finale. It began with the Rebels’ first at-bat — a line drive by Jacob Gonzalez to Arkansas second baseman Peyton Stovall, who was shifted toward the grass in right field.
It was one of three hits Stovall likely robbed during the series as he shifted against a left-handed pull hitter. He also took away potential singles by TJ McCants during Friday’s doubleheader.
With freshman right-hander Gage Wood on the mound, the Razorbacks made two great defensive plays in the ninth inning. Left fielder Jared Wegner made a diving catch to rob Will Furniss of a lead-off hit, and center fielder Tavian Josenberger covered a lot of territory to make a running catch in left-center field that robbed John Kramer of what would have been an extra-base hit.
Arkansas also turned two double plays in the final game of the series.
“Our defense, they really came to play,” Wood said, “and that’s a big reason we ended up getting this series win.
“Without them, that could have been a totally different ballgame.”
One of the biggest defensive plays came in the fifth inning when Arkansas starting pitcher Will McEntire picked off Ethan Lege at first base before a 3-2 pitch to Peyton Chatagnier, who walked. Gonzalez later hit a two-out, two-run home run against reliever Dylan Carter to tie the game 3-3.
Gonzalez would have come to the plate with two runners on base without the pick-off throw.
“That was huge,” Van Horn said.
Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco complimented Arkansas’ defensive play during his post-game interview on the Ole Miss Rebels Sports Network radio show.
“They made plays and got off the field,” Bianco said of the Razorbacks. “They made pitches and got off the field and didn’t allow us to have the big inning. That’s how you win the baseball game.”
The weekend was not without some bad moments in the field for Arkansas. Notably, Josenberger, right fielder Jace Bohrofen and first baseman Brady Slavens let a pop up drop between them as the Rebels won 7-4 on Friday night.
Van Horn indicated Saturday that play resulted from miscommunication between the fielders.
First place
This week’s results made for an interesting turn in the race to win the SEC West.
Arkansas took a one-half game lead over top-ranked LSU in the division. The Tigers, who have a 7-4 SEC record, split two games at sixth-ranked South Carolina. Rain caused the final game of that series to be canceled.
LSU won two of three games over Arkansas on its home field two weeks ago.
As it stands, the Tigers can play a maximum number of 29 conference games, while the Razorbacks can still play up to 30.
The division champion is determined by the team with the highest winning percentage.
Rubber results
Arkansas improved to 2-1 in series rubber games.
The Razorbacks lost 14-5 at LSU in the second game of a March 26 doubleheader to drop the series. Arkansas defeated Alabama 5-4 in last Sunday’s decisive Game 3.
Ole Miss is 1-2 in rubber games, including 0-2 the past week in SEC play.
This was the fifth consecutive regular-season series between Arkansas and Ole Miss that was tied 1-1 going into the final game. The Rebels won the series in 2018 and 2019, and the Razorbacks have won the past three seasons.
The teams have also gone the distance in their two meetings in the postseason during that time. Arkansas won 14-1 in Game 3 of the NCAA Fayetteville Super Regional in 2019, and Ole Miss won 2-0 in the decisive game of their College World Series semifinal matchup last year in Omaha, Neb.
“There have been a lot of memorable games against them — some that have gone our way like last year, and some that haven’t,” Bianco said on Ole Miss’ pre-game radio show Friday. “It’s always a war when we play them.”
Big Mac battles
McEntire pitched 4 2/3 innings and exited the game with the lead Saturday.
McEntire’s 60-pitch outing came six days after he became sick with the flu. He allowed 2 runs, 5 hits and 2 walks, and struck out 2 batters.
“He fought as long as he could,” Van Horn said. “I’m really proud of him.”
Arkansas’ coaches were not sure earlier in the week whether McEntire would be able to pitch during the series. The Razorbacks’ No. 2 starter was held until the final game to give himself an extra day to build up his strength.
“He had a rough week and started snapping out of it about Wednesday, Wednesday evening,” Van Horn said on the Razorback Sports Network pre-game radio show. “He looks a lot better today.”
SEC Network analyst Kyle Peterson credited McEntire’s outing during the fifth inning of the game broadcast.
“When you gain a lot more respect is when you go out with your stuff that isn’t your best, and you give your club a chance to win,” said Peterson, a two-time Pac-10 pitcher of the year at Stanford. “That’s what Will McEntire has done today.”
On the air
The SEC Network crew who called Saturday’s game will also be on the call for the Razorbacks’ next SEC game.
Dave Neal (play-by-play) and Peterson (analyst) called the game at Ole Miss remotely from their homes, but both are scheduled to be in attendance at Baum-Walker Stadium when Arkansas hosts No. 8 Tennessee on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. on SEC Network.
Neal will remain in Fayetteville on Saturday to call the Razorbacks’ spring football game along with former Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray on SEC Network-Plus.
The final two games of the Arkansas-Tennessee baseball series will also be streamed on SEC Network-Plus with Brett Dolan expected to call play-by-play and Troy Eklund serving as the analyst.