Arkansas’ offense was clicking at times, but it was the play of its defense late that lifted the Razorbacks against Washington State on Saturday night.
Jordan Pratt pulled Arkansas (42-18) out of a big, deep, dark and treacherous hole in the eighth inning with the bases loaded and worked his way out of a lead-off double in the ninth inning to secure the 6-4 win.
But credit a huge diving catch in left field by Matt Vinson, who was almost out of position before Patrick Claussen smacked a ball hard in his direction.
“It was kind of funny,” Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. ” Coach (Todd) Butler, he moves the outfielders around and does a great job with it. It was an 0-2 count, left-handed hitter, runner on second. Normally in that situation you’re thinking don’t let them hit it over your head with the tying run in scoring position.”
That’s when Vinson was signaled what to do and where to position himself as Claussen stepped back in the box.
“… Coach Butler looked at me and said, do you want him up? ” Van Horn said. “And I hesitated and I said, ‘yes.’ Coach tried to bring him with his sign and he backed up, and then we were screaming.”
Vinson had misunderstood the signal. Pratt walked off the mound to buy some time, Van Horn and Butler yelled from the first-base dugout (not routine, as the Razorbacks are accustomed to sitting on the home side at third base).
Vinson finally understood and he walked up 6 to 7 yards back into position. The very next pitch, Claussen hit a sharp ball to left. Vinson sprinted slightly left and dove for the ball, which was dropping quickly. Just before hitting the ground, he made the catch.
Game over.
The decision “made a difference,” Van Horn said.
“So it worked out.”
If Vinson hadn’t adjusted, or if the coaches had decided to keep Vinson deep in the field, the Hogs may very well have lost the game.
Baseball is a game of decisions, big plays and adjustments. And just as it had seemed Washington State was making the big plays — especially from second baseman Cody Bartlett on defense — Arkansas adjusted and made the correct decisions.
Several players made the difference. Pratt inherited a horrible situation with the bases loaded in the eighth inning, but he responded like a veteran. He forced an infield fly out, which kept all the men at their respective bases, and the crowd erupted. The silence that had enveloped Baum Stadium had turned into a thunderous, appreciative roar.
“When it’s pretty quiet like that, it makes me kind of nervous,” Pratt admitted. “I know I’m doing a good job when they’re getting loud.”
Then he threw a fastball up high, two backdoor sliders and another fastball. The final pitch was chased by Michael Weber, who struck out.
“He had some good pitches,” Weber said. “I should have just put the ball in play, though.”
Then Shea Vucinich popped up to shallow right, ending the threat with three men stranded on base. Frustration grew, Arkansas adjusted and it came up with a huge win against a team known for come-from-behind victories. The Cougars (35-21) did it Friday night, when Bartlett’s two-run home run beat Kansas State 8-6.
And they just about did it again for a 20th time this season behind Bartlett’s two-run homer in the sixth and his magnificent defense. Washington State Coach Donnie Marbut called the performance one of the best he had ever seen and labeled the speedy defensemen the best player in the regional.
It was hard to find anyone who would deny that claim.
“He made about every play you can make, and I think he saved them probably three runs with his glove,” Van Horn said. “… We kept thinking we’re getting ready to put them away. … And (then) he made a play.”
For now, Arkansas can rest and watch Kansas State and Washington State battle it out Sunday in an elimination game at 2:05 p.m. The winner gets the Razorbacks at 7:05 p.m. in the regional championship.
The Razorbacks, though, continue to be hobbled. Center fielder Brett Eibner, who’s been battling a hairline fracture in his right hand, apparently hurt his right leg running to third base in the third inning. He limped, jogged but finished the game after a shift to right field to presumably shorten the amount of field he had to cover on defense.
Van Horn thinks it’s a cramp, but did not know the extent of the injury after the game. Arkansas will be in a tough situation if Eibner is unable to play defense. Third baseman Zack Cox has already been moved to the designated hitter spot to counter his hurt back. Eibner, if he plays, would most likely have to do so in center or right field and not as the DH.
“I have a lot of concerns right now when it comes to injuries,” Van Horn said.
Make sure to check out WholeHogSports.com and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for more coverage. You can also follow us on Twitter for breaking news updates with @bmarcello and @wholehogsports.
