Around The HORN: Diamond Hogs Notebook

Super Sweep Picking up a three-game sweep in SEC play is never easy. But when it does happen, most teams doing the broomwork often find themselves in good shape come tournament time.

That’s exactly what Arkansas is hoping, as the Razorbacks completed their first sweep of the season by taking three straight from South Carolina. Entering the weekend, the Razorbacks were on the outside looking in as far as the SEC Tournament was concerned. But thanks to the three wins, the Diamond Hogs are now one of eight teams in line to play in the conference tourney.

“Sweeping a team in the SEC is very hard to do,” junior second baseman Ben Tschepikow said. “We’re very grateful and very blessed that we were able to do that, but we’re not going to tip our caps right now. We’re going to keep going and keep working hard because we’ve still got a lot of season left.”



Short Hops

Arkansas improved to 27-18 all-time in the series against South Carolina and has now won six in a row against the Gamecocks dating back to the 2005 season. ... Freshman Brett Eibner had started every SEC game for the Razorbacks before being used as a late-inning replacement off the bench Sunday. ... Despite missing 20 consecutive games with a pulled ribcage muscle, freshman Andy Wilkins returned to the starting lineup this weekend and finished 6-for-12 with two RBIs.



Up Next

Arkansas held Senior Day festivities on Sunday, but the Razorbacks actually have one more regular season game at Baum Stadium today. The Diamond Hogs host Mississippi Valley State at 2:05 p.m. in a makeup of a regularly scheduled April 2 contest that was postponed by rain.

“I just told them we’re going to mix it up (today),” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. “We really need to win and we need W’s on our side. We’re going to do everything we can to win the game, but we will mix it up. And now we’ve got a little more pitching available, which is great. So I’m not sure who we’re starting, but we’ll talk it over and get it figured out.”





THE INSIDE PITCH

Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils at Arkansas Razorbacks

WHEN: 2:05 p.m., today. WHERE: Baum Stadium, Fayetteville.

SERIES: 0-0.

TV: none.

ON THE AIR: KFAY-AM 1030; KURM-AM 790, KURM-FM 100.3; KHGG-AM 1580, KHGG-FM 103.1; KXIO-FM 106.9.

LAST TIME OUT: Dallas Keuchel allowed just one run in eight-plus innings and Arkansas completed its first three-game sweep in Southeastern Conference play this season with a 4-2 win against South Carolina on Sunday.