NCAA DIVISION I BASEBALL TOURNAMENT STILLWATER (OKLA.) REGIONAL

Hogs call for arms

UA staff besieged by injury

Arkansas pitcher Keaton McKinney throws during practice Thursday, May 28, 2015, at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium in Stillwater, Okla.
Arkansas pitcher Keaton McKinney throws during practice Thursday, May 28, 2015, at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium in Stillwater, Okla.

STILLWATER, Okla. -- A major turnaround by Arkansas' pitching staff played an integral role in a 24-10 finish that catapulted the Razorbacks to a No. 2 seed at the NCAA Stillwater Regional.

But new pitching questions are swirling as Arkansas (35-22) opens the regional at noon today against third-seeded Oral Roberts (41-14) at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium on the Oklahoma State campus.

Today’s game

NO. 2 SEED ARKANSAS VS. NO. 3 SEED ORAL ROBERTS

WHEN Noon today

RECORDS Arkansas 35-22, Oral Roberts 41-14

OTHER TEAMS No. 1 Oklahoma State (37-18) and No. 4 St. John’s (39-14)

SERIES Arkansas leads 65-35. RADIO Razorbacks Sports Network. Check local listings.

TELEVISION SEC Network

Trey Killian (2-4, 4.72 ERA), the junior staff veteran, will take the mound against Golden Eagles right-hander Guillermo Trujillo (10-3, 4.03).

Behind Killian the Hogs have issues.

Coach Dave Van Horn said at Thursday's news conference that starters Keaton McKinney and Dominic Taccolini were questionable for Saturday.

McKinney had a slight hitch in his movements during Thursday's workout, the day after he threw his first bullpen since a nagging right hip issue knocked him out in the second inning of his start last Wednesday against Florida.

"I'd say right now it's 50-50, looking better than I thought maybe a few days ago," Van Horn said.

Taccolini has developed what Arkansas pitching coach Dave Jorn called tendinitis under his right armpit.

It was Taccolini who relieved Killian last Wednesday at the SEC Tournament in Hoover, Ala., then started and lost Friday's elimination game against Florida.

"I'd say 50-50 at best," Van Horn said of Taccolini's availability at the regional. "We probably won't see him the first two ballgames. If we're fortunate enough to be in a third or fourth, maybe. But we won't know on him for a couple of days."

McKinney leads the Razorbacks with a 6-1 record, a 3.14 ERA and 77 1/3 innings. Taccolini (6-4, 4.32) is second with 77 innings, and Killian is third with 68 2/3 innings.

McKinney said Tuesday he expected to be ready for his start Saturday.

"I'm glad he was saying things like that, but realistically let's see how he feels [today], two days after he threw his bullpen, and see where he is with soreness," Van Horn said. "If he's good to go, we'll give him the ball."

Slotting pitchers into their roles, which was key in Arkansas' surge after a 11-12 start to the season, now seems like an even tougher project.

The Razorbacks might have to use committee pitching approach. Sophomore Zach Jackson, who opened the season as a starter and developed into an All-SEC closer (5-0, 2.25 ERA), might have to pick up a longer stint or multiple outings in Stillwater.

"He's been built up where he could throw ... every day," Van Horn said. "He could throw five or six innings in a game. He's ready to roll."

Jackson said he has faith Killian can help stretch the staff with a lengthy start today.

"If Trey can give us a typical outing that he does when he's on, that definitely saves our bullpen," Jackson said.

Killian is coming off a 7 2/3-inning effort in which he allowed 1 run on 4 hits of a no-decision against Tennessee to open the SEC Tournament last Tuesday.

"Getting that first win in a regional is probably the biggest thing, the most important thing at least, so I'm just going to go out there and compete and try to set the tone and get us the first win," Killian said.

Killian will face an Oral Roberts team with a .321 batting average that ranks second in the NCAA.

"We just kind of grind out at-bats, wear pitchers down over time," said Oral Roberts designated hitter Anthony Sequeira. "Get in the bullpen, usually good things happen."

Trujillo throws a fastball, curveball and change-up and will use any of the pitches in any count, Oral Roberts Coach Ryan Folmar said.

"He's' been the same competitive guy every time he's touched the mound," Folmar said. "The reason he's gotten the ball the first game every weekend is we know what we're getting every time. He goes out with a three-pitch mix and he competes."

Arkansas pitching coach Dave Jorn recognized this year's pitching has been a puzzle most of the season.

"Last year we had three kids as starters that gave us innings into the seventh and eighth," Jorn said. "You're going to have to win at least three games here, so you're going to have to have some kind of length with your starting pitching and save your guys in the bullpen."

Pitchers like nine-game starter James Teague (4-4, 3.65), Jackson Lowery (6-1, 3.53), Lance Phillips (1-3, 2.48), Josh Alberius (1-2, 3.68) and Jacob Stone (3-2, 4.26), last year's set-up man who had two solid outings in Hoover, could wind up logging extended innings at the regional.

"We're going to do whatever we have to do," Van Horn said.

Sports on 05/29/2015

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