HOOVER, Ala. - The Arkansas Razorbacks returned to Fayetteville by bus Saturday night after a 3-1 loss to No. 2 LSU in the SEC Tournament semifinals ended their 11-day road trip in the state of Alabama.
Now the Razorbacks hope to be home for a while and receive one of 16 NCAA regional host spots that will be announced at 8 tonight.
The No. 14 Razorbacks (37-20) finished third in the SEC regular-season standings with an 18-11 record, then went 2-1 at the conference tournament with victories over Ole Miss and LSU.
Arkansas’ tournament showing should raise its Ratings Percentage Index - a ranking used by the NCAA based on a team’s record and strength of schedule - after the Razorbacks began the week with a No. 48 RPI.
“Obviously, I hope we get a regional in Fayetteville,” Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. “I feel like we deserve one. We have 20 wins against SEC teams.
We won seven out of 10 series and four out of five on the road. We swept South Carolina, and we finished ahead of them in the standings, beat Mississippi State two out of three at home.
“We could go on and on.
I think I’ve pleaded enough.
We’ve been on the road for 11 days, and I’d like to stay home and play.”
South Carolina (17-12 in the SEC) and Mississippi State (16-14) have been projected by several college baseball websites to host regionals. No. 1 Vanderbilt and No. 2 LSU are assured of hosting regionals.
“I’m not on the [NCAA selection] committee, but if I had a vote I’d vote for Arkansas to host,” LSU Coach Paul Mainieri said.
“I think they deserve a regional. They had the thirdbest record in the SEC, my goodness.
“I know Mississippi State and South Carolina feel they’re deserving of hosting as well. I’d love to see five teams from our league host.
But if they only give four, how do you pick between those three? I don’t know how they do it, but I think the standings should be a major factor.”
Arkansas catcher Jake Wise said the Razorbacks will be ready for a regional wherever they play.
“It’s always nice to be home,” Wise said. “If we host a regional, we host. If we don’t, we’ve got a bunch of guys that have gone on the road to regionals and super regionals, so I think that experience will help us.
“Some of us like being on the road better because you’re in a hotel and you get to hang out with all the guys. For us, I don’t think it really matters whether we’re on the road or home.”Big K for Killian
It was just one out, but for Arkansas freshman Trey Killian, it had to be a nice confidence boost.
Killian struck out LSU shortstop Alex Bregman - who is hitting .378 - to end the top of the eighth inning and leave runners on first and third and hold the Tigers’ lead at 3-1.
Killian was among six Arkansas relievers to pitch after starter Randall Fant.
“I wanted to get guys in the game,” Razorbacks Coach Dave Van Horn said.
“I was thinking we could come back and win, but as head coach you’ve also got to think about down the road - next weekend, the weekend after that and next year.
“I’ve got these young guys out there that want to pitch in the SEC Tournament. I knew if they could come into a tough spot and get it done, it’s going to help us.
“You can’t replace experience. You have to experience it. You can’t just talk about, and they did it.”Wise back
Arkansas junior catcher Jake Wise, who was ill earlier this week, was back in the starting lineup Saturday. He didn’t play against Ole Miss on Wednesday and caugh tone inning against LSU on Thursday with one at-bat.
“I feel good physically,” Wise said. “It felt great to be back in the lineup.”
Wise praised the job redshirt freshman Jean Ramirez did as Arkansas’ starting catcher the previous two games.
“Ramirez did a great job,” Wise said. “Our pitchers were saying they didn’t notice I wasn’t back there, he did so great.”Mutual respect
LSU has a 56-29 series lead over Arkansas, but the Tigers are 3-2 against the Razorbacks this season and 6-5 the past three years.
“I think the rivalry has kind of heated up,” LSU senior outfielder Raph Rhymes said. “I always enjoy playing Arkansas. Whether it’s home or it’s away, there’s always a good environment.
“They’re a great team. It’s always good competition.”
Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said the programs have a lot of similarities.
“With both teams, there’s an environment of winning and working hard, and not settling for being second best,” Van Horn said. “I think it goes from one recruiting class to another.
“That’s how you build a program and develop players. Kids want to come to our programs.”He missed the bag!
LSU’s Christian Ibarra should have had two RBI when he hit a two-out double with Jared Foster on second and Raph Rhymes on first, but Rhymes missed second base. So he had to go back, touch second and only reached third, then was stranded when the inning ended Ty Ross’ ground out.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen it happen all year, in several years probably,” LSU Coach Paul Mainieri said.
“But he clearly missed the bag. If they had appealed it, they would have called him out.
“Raph was really upset with himself, and I was trying to get a smile out of him the last couple of innings. He said, ‘I’ll smile if we win and I know it didn’t cost us the game.’ Fortunately, we won. He’s happy.”
Sports, Pages 30 on 05/26/2013