The right fit

Middle men big part of Hogs' postseason success

Arkansas second baseman Michael Bernal, top, throws to first after forcing out Tennessee's Jordan Rodgers at second base during the eighth inning of a Southeastern Conference college baseball tournament game Tuesday, May 19, 2015, in Hoover, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Arkansas second baseman Michael Bernal, top, throws to first after forcing out Tennessee's Jordan Rodgers at second base during the eighth inning of a Southeastern Conference college baseball tournament game Tuesday, May 19, 2015, in Hoover, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

FAYETTEVILLE -- After much tinkering with his middle infield rotation and designated hitter spot, Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn seems to have landed on a productive combination heading into the Razorbacks' NCAA regional game against Oral Roberts on Friday in Stillwater, Okla.

Michael Bernal, Brett McAfee and Rick Nomura have been splitting playing time at second base, shortstop and designated hitter in the midst of Arkansas' postseason run.

NCAA Stillwater Regional

At L. Dale Mitchell Park Stillwater, Okla.

FRIDAY’S GAMES

All times Central

Oral Roberts (41-14) vs. Arkansas (35-22), noon

Oklahoma State (37-18) vs. St. John’s (39-14), 6 p.m.

The three junior transfers have had to sacrifice playing time at different points of the season, but they've been fixtures the past nine games and have helped ignite production from the middle and bottom of Arkansas' batting order.

"We're just doing what we can to get on base," said Bernal, whose thick mustache has spawned "Fear the Stache" traffic on Arkansas social media. "Rick's got the speed to get on base and he can wreak some havoc when he's on the base path."

McAfee said the three have meshed while battling for playing time.

"We all work together, take ground balls together, turn double plays together every single day," he said. "We all hang out together. We show up, put our work in, work hard, and whoever's name is in the lineup is who plays.

"That's just kind of how it's been rotating this year."

Bernal, of El Paso, Texas, carries Arkansas' hottest bat into the NCAA Tournament. Hitting mostly in the eight hole, Bernal is on a 13-for-31 binge (.419) with a 10-game hitting streak, 7 runs scored and 3 RBI since the first game of Arkansas' home series against Tennessee on May 8. He's started 32 games at shortstop, including the past 10 in a row, and 15 games at second base.

Nomura, a Waipahu, Hawaii, native who rides an old-school Cruiser Board to get around campus much of the time, hit a dry spell in the middle of the season but has re-emerged as the everyday second baseman the past couple of weeks.

"He went into a little bit of a lull maybe a month or so ago," Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. "I think he got tired. That's one reason I put him on the bench, started platooning him a little bit. McAfee picked it up for us."

Nomura, who has started 41 of 53 games at second base, took his mid-season platooning in stride.

"I honestly feel it's not a self game, it's about being a team," Nomura said. " I wasn't doing my part, so the next guy stepped in and we're still winning, so I'm glad about that."

Nomura has gone 13 for 34 (.382) with 9 runs since starting the second game of the Tennessee series at Baum Stadium on May 10.

"I feel great at the dish right now, and we're ready to get after it," Nomura said.

McAfee, of Longview, Texas, hasn't hit for a big average in that span -- 7 for 31 (.229) -- but has driven in five runs in nine games since taking over the main designated hitter duties in the series with the Volunteers. McAfee has made 25 starts at shortstop and began the past eight games at designated hitter.

"I've never really had that role before, but these past couple of weeks I've kind of settled in to it," McAfee said. "I feel comfortable doing it. I feel comfortable anywhere on the field. So if you put me at shortstop and DH me the next game, I'm comfortable with it."

Van Horn gave newcomers Chad Spanberger and Luke Bonfield the bulk of the designated hitter starts before trying McAfee there.

"McAfee got some big hits for us down the stretch, a lot of line drives through the middle," Van Horn said. "He got a couple of big hits at Georgia and the weekend before, here against Tennessee.

"He's an older kid. A lot of times this time of year, if you have two guys that are about the same ... my philosophy is you just go with the guy with some experience. I think he might be able to handle it a little bit better."

Bernal, Nomura and first baseman Clark Eagan were the only regulars with four or more at-bats at the SEC Tournament to improve their averages. Nomura went 6 for 15 (.400), while Bernal (4 for 12, .333) had a hit in every game and Eagan went 3 for 10.

Nomura has raised his average to .312, third on the team among regulars, while Bernal is at .282 and McAfee at .273.

While ninth-inning home runs by Bobby Wernes and Andrew Benintendi gave Arkansas a dramatic 7-6 victory over Florida in Hoover, Ala., Nomura and Bernal combined for late-game heroics to push Arkansas past Tennessee 2-1 in the SEC Tournament opener.

Nomura singled against Andrew Lee with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, and Bernal drove him home with a double to the left-field corner.

"He's going up to the plate battling the entire at-bat, not giving any at-bats away," Bernal said of Nomura. "He's kind of just being a nuisance to pitchers."

Van Horn said the same of Bernal.

"He's had a good season offensively," Van Horn said. "He's swinging the bat pretty good. He's confident. I just like what he brings to the game. He brings a lot of energy. He's verbal out there.

"He's kind of running the show a little bit. That's what you need from at least one of your middle infielders. When he's out there, he's the guy who does it."

Sports on 05/28/2015

Upcoming Events