Hogs stay home to find footing

Despite starting the season with 16 nonconference games — most of them at home — Arkansas baseball Coach Dave Van Horn said the Razorbacks need to be aware of Auburn looming.
Despite starting the season with 16 nonconference games — most of them at home — Arkansas baseball Coach Dave Van Horn said the Razorbacks need to be aware of Auburn looming.

— Arkansas’ baseball team has its share of questions heading into the season, but at least the Razorbacks won’t have to go far to try to find some answers.

Arkansas opens its season with a 3 p.m. game today against Delaware State at Baum Stadium. It’s the start of an 11-game homestand for Arkansas, which is trying to rebuild after losing seven players from last season who were taken in the major league draft.

As difficult as it might seem trying to replace the bulk of a team that went to the College World Series in 2009 and advanced to the NCAA super regionals last year, at least the Razorbacks have the luxury of playing mostly at home as they try to figure out how the team will come together this season.

Fans who like variety should appreciate Arkansas’ nonconference schedule leading up to the SEC opener March 18 at Auburn.

The Razorbacks will bring in teams from all over the country, beginning with this weekend’s three-game series against Delaware State. Arkansas will host Utah for a three-game series Feb. 25-27, McNeese State for two games March 1-2 and Wisconsin-Milwaukee for another threegame series March 4-6.

Then it’s off to San Diego, where the Razorbacks will face San Diego State in a four-game series March 10-13 before returning home for a single game against Kansas on March 15.

“We need to be ready for Auburn, and I’ve already told our guys that,” Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. “You’re going to have a lot of ups and downs, especially in baseball with as many games as we play, so if we could knock off a bunch of wins early, it would be big for our confidence.”

Arkansas’ effort to build some confidence begins today when the Razorbacks meet Delaware State for the first time.

The Hornets were 13-36 last season, including 8-10 in the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference. Fifteen lettermen return, including nine pitchers and six position starters.

The team’s top returning starters are outfielder Tony Gatto, an All-MEAC second team selection who batted .317 with 4 home runs and 33 RBI last season, and second baseman Scott Davis, who led the Hornets with a .353 average and hit 2 home runs with 23 RBI.

Delaware State will send sophomore right-hander Jordan Elliott to the mound today. He appeared in only 3 games last season because of injuries, going 1-2 with 8 strikeouts and 15 innings. Sophomore right-hander Elliott Gardner led the Hornets with 51 strikeouts last season.

“They didn’t have a very good year last year, and they’d be the first one to tell you that, but they’ve got everybody back,” Van Horn said. “For us,these three games are about getting better. We need to win all three games, but we need to get better and get ready for Utah next weekend.”

Arkansas sophomore righthander D.J. Baxendale will get the start today. Baxendale worked predominantly out of the bullpen last season, going 0-2 with a 3.58 ERA while leading the Razorbacks with 7 saves. He will be followed in this weekend’s rotation by junior left-hander Geoffrey Davenport, who was 2-2 with a 3.63 ERA last season, and right-hander Brandon Moore, a freshman from Van Buren.

Baxendale started only three games last year, but he showed promise with a strong six-inning relief performance against Arizona State in the super regional. The Razorbacks are counting on Baxendale to anchor a young pitching staff, and he said his showing against Arizona State gave him a boost of confidence he’s taken into this season.

“That game helped me realize I could be a big-time pitcher,” said Baxendale, who was the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Baseball Player of the Year as a senior at Sylvan Hills. “It was a good experience that showed me what I needed to do to be that kind of pitcher.”

Arkansas’ young staff also will be helped by the return of junior catcher James Mc-Cann, who started 59 games last season and batted .286 with 9 home runs and 34RBI. Other returning starters include second baseman Bo Bigham (.316, 3 HR, 30 RBI), shortstop Tim Carver (.276, 4 HR, 36 RBI) and outfielder Collin Kuhn (.336, 16 HR, 52 RBI), who came back to Arkansas after being selected in the 15th round by the Detroit Tigers.

“I think we’ll surprise some people,” Kuhn said. “I think we’ll definitely make the NCAA Tournament again this year.”

That quest begins today.

Razorbacks at a glance DELAWARE STATE AT ARKANSAS WHEN 3:05 p.m. today WHERE Baum Stadium, Fayetteville RADIO RSP statewide radio network, which includes KQSM-FM, 92.1, in Fayetteville; KURM-AM, 790, and KURMFM, 100.3, in Bentonville-Rogers; KABZFM, 103.7, in Little Rock; KASR-FM, 92.7, in Conway; KHGG-FM, 103.1, in Fort Smith; KELD-FM, 106.5, in El Dorado; and KOMT-FM, 107.5, in Mountain Home. Not all games will be carried by affiliates; check local listings.

INTERNET www.arkansasrazorbacks.com (go to Razorvision link) PITCHING MATCHUPS Delaware State: Jordan Elliott (RHP, 1-2, 10.57 ERA in 2010). Arkansas: DJ Baxendale (RHP, 0-2, 3.58, 7 saves in 2010) SHORT HOPS Arkansas and Delaware Sate are meeting for the first time. Delaware State is in Dover, Del., and the school has an enrollment of 3,534. ... Arkansas finished 43-21 last season, including 18-12 in the SEC. ... League coaches picked the Razorbacks to finish second in the SEC West this season behind LSU. ... Arkansas went 29-9 last year at Baum Stadium.

THE WEEK AHEAD TODAY vs. Delaware State, 3:05 p.m.

SATURDAY vs. Delaware State, 1:05 p.m. SUNDAY vs. Delaware State, 1:05 p.m.

MONDAY off TUESDAY off WEDNESDAY off THURSDAY off FRIDAY vs. Utah, 3:05 p.m.

Sports, Pages 17 on 02/18/2011

Upcoming Events