The effort was there, the hearts were beating, the high-fives were visible.
Arkansas’ dugout had come alive.
But it was over for the Razorbacks Sunday night in a 10-7 loss to Washington State in Game 1 of the Fayetteville Regional championship.
Over along the first-base line, Washington State was confident, consistent and, most of all, not shaken by the rowdy 8,000-plus fans and Arkansas’ sudden surge in the seventh and eighth inning at Baum Stadium.
Their six-run lead had been cut to 7-5 and suddenly the comeback Cougars were close to getting a does of their own medicine.
They had been through this five times before in the last two seasons against the Razorbacks. Most of the games were close, but all ended in Cougar losses. Not tonight, though. They staved off elimination in the Fayetteville Regional championship behind pitcher James Wise, who asked for the ball and his second start on the same day he melted down in 76 pitches in an elimination game win against Kansas State.
“He wants the ballgame too, and if that can’t inspire your team, you can’t be inspired,” Washington State Coach Donnie Marbut said. “I know as a coaching staff you just …”
Marbut paused, obviously attempting to halt himself from crushing his words with emotion. Like his team Sunday night, he succeeded before continuing his thought.
“(I’m) proud beyond believe of him, even if we had lost tonight. It’s baseball, you might lose games. I’m satisfied with the win, no question, but I can sit up here and just be as proud of these guys by the effort. There’s two things you can’t teach. You can’t teach attitude and you can’t coach effort. And I don’t have to.”
Arkansas looked sluggish in the first four innings. The Razorbacks didn’t look the part of a team rested and fresh. In fact, Washington State was the hot team after playing in the hot sun for 3 hours, 30 minutes in a 9-6 victory against Kansas State earlier that afternoon.
It’s obvious, from this performance, and Arkansas’ sluggish play in a pieced-together infield that the Razorbacks need to step up. Zack Cox, whose back is obviously a hindrance, has played as the designated hitter in two regional games and it’s forced Andy Wilkins to move from first to third base. The move cost Arkansas an error and runs in the Cougars’ three-run eighth inning.
Cox, who will most likely be selected in the MLB Draft early in the first round Friday night during the final game of this championship, is the Razorbacks’ go-to third baseman. His presence was missed defensively, even while he struggled at the plate in a 1-for-4 performance with three strikeouts.
It’s gut-check time for Cox, who could be available to play the infield with his ailing back.
“Yep,” Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said of Cox’ availability. “Probably going to be his call tomorrow.”
And for Brett Eibner, who pulled his right hamstring Saturday night in the Hogs’ 6-4 victory against Washington State in the winners’ bracket. He did not play Sunday in a game the Hogs struggled at the plate, even though three Razorbacks (Collin Kuhn, Monk Kreder and James McCann) hit solo home runs.
Eibner is expected to play Monday night, Van Horn said. Whether Eibner is in center field or in place of Cox at designated hitter remains to be seen.
Plan on both playing huge roles Monday night, as both end their Razorback careers in Baum Stadium.
What is known is that this is gut-check time for the Razorbacks, who are dangerously teetering on the edge of ending their season well short of a return trip to the College World Series.
Especially against Washington State, which has always played Arkansas tough in the last six games since the 2009 season. And with a win — finally — underneath their belt against Arkansas, the momentum has swung the Cougars’ way.
“I hate to say it’s a typical Arkansas-Washington State game, but it seems like the last two years — except we actually came out on top of this one — they’ve all just been great games,” Marbut said. “I just sat and watched today, to be honest with you. Eighteen innings of grinding baseball. I just credit my guys. They just would not give in today. I’m just blessed to be a part of their team.”
Arkansas fans hope Van Horn can say the same Monday night.
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.
