Stanek powers Hogs past Tide

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Ryan Stanek called his performance “efficient” in Arkansas’ 6-0 victory Friday night over Alabama at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

Overpowering might be a better description.

The 6-4, 190-pound junior struck out five Alabama batters in the first two innings and then let his defense work behind him as he sailed through his second impressive outing in his past three starts. He allowed 4 hits, walked none, hit 1 batter and didn’t allow a runner to reach second base. The only thing he didn’t do was finish what he started.

“He could have finished the game,” said Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn after the 12th-ranked Razorbacks(23-8, 8-3 SEC) clinched the series over the 22nd-ranked Crimson Tide (19-13, 7-4). “He pretty much lobbied to stay in and we didn’t let him obviously.”

Alabama Coach Mitch Gaspard was glad to see Stanek sit down, even though the Razorbacks were in control.

“He beat our bats up all night,” said Gaspard, whose team will attempt to avoid the series sweep today. “He was in on our hands. I’ll betwe didn’t find but two or three barrels all night. But 95 [mph] with a [lead] will do that to you.”

Two weeks ago, Stanek threw 125 pitches in a complete-game 4-2 victory at South Carolina. This time, with a huge SEC series against LSU next weekend, Van Horn decided not to push Stanek’s pitch count as high. Michael Gunn finished out the Razorbacks’ first shutout of an Alabama team in Tuscaloosa and the team’s sixth shutout this season.

“If there is a chance for me to finish, I would really like to go out and shut the door in the last inning,” said Stanek, whose gem helped drop Arkansas’ overall ERA to 1.57. “It was good to keep my pitch count under control so I didn’t get up there like I did a couple of weeks ago.”

The Arkansas defense helped keep Stanek’s pitch count down by turning three double plays. Third baseman Jacob Mahan made a sensational diving play on one ground ball and shortstop Brian Anderson’s strong throw from deep in the hole kept another Alabama batter from reaching.

“It’s awesome when you get your defense making plays like that,” Stanek said. “You don’t have to go out there and punch everybody out. It’s pretty big for the confidence to get those plays.”

The Razorbacks also swung the bats well, collecting 12 hits, with second baseman Dominic Ficociello leading the way with three hits. Designated hitter Joe Serrano, Anderson, left fielder Matt Vinson, catcher Jake Wise and first baseman Eric Fisher each had two hits with Anderson also collecting two RBI.

Arkansas had some good fortune early with what Van Horn called “a couple of seeing-eye singles” and a RBI checked-swing single by Wise that traveled about 45 feet. That helped stake the Razorbacks to a 4-0 lead after three innings.

Arkansas can sweep Alabama for a second consecutive season with another victory today. The Razorbacks swept the Tide 4-3, 8-4 and 7-4 last season at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville.