Van Horn's Hogs face important week after recent setbacks

Arkansas has lost four-of-five, two straight SEC series after climbing to No. 1

Arkansas Razorbacks coach Dave Van Horn always exhibits a steady hand while piloting his players through the long and grueling SEC season. | Andy Hodges-Hogs on SI Images

In the world of sports, ecstasy and agony don't live far apart. Coach Dave Van Horn's Arkansas Razorbacks experienced that reality in the last week.

Just a week ago, the Razorbacks were No. 1 in the country and looked like a legitimate contender for the national championship.

Now, they're at a crossroads. Some might even consider it a critical juncture in Arkansas' long season.

After ascending to the top of the collegiate baseball rankings, the Hogs promptly lost back-to-back SEC series, including four of their last five games.

They looked every bit the best team in the country when they whipped the No. 7 Georgia Bulldogs 13-3 in the first game of last weekend's series in Athens, Ga.

The Hogs scored 10 runs in the last three innings, including seven in the ninth, to win 13-3.

Arkansas pitcher Zach Root delivers a pitch during Arkansas' series-opening win against the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens, Ga., on April 11. | Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Then came consecutive 7-6 losses to the Bulldogs, the series finale lasting 12 frustrating innings.

A little home cooking at Baum-Walker Stadium figured to get the Hogs back on track, but it wasn't to be.

Texas A&M, the preseason No. 1 team, left Fayetteville with a pair of wins and renewed confidence.

The Aggies won Thursday's opener, 7-4. The Razorbacks rebounded to win, 11-5, in the opener of Friday's doubleheader. Arkansas had chances in the nightcap but eventually lost, 9-2, in the series finale.

Van Horn is thankful his team doesn't play again until Tuesday when they host Little Rock in the first of two games on consecutive nights at Baum-Walker. They'll rest this weekend before practicing Monday.

"You could tell our guys were tired [Friday]," Van Horn said. "The second game, they were tired. We were hoping that we could get through it, find a way to win it. But A&M, they’re really good."

As usual, Van Horn had a realistic take on losing to the Aggies, a talented bunch just now hitting their stride after early-season disappointments.

"Give credit to A&M," Van Horn said. "They played better than us and they got some big hits when they needed them [Thursday] night and then in that second game [Friday]. They pitched better than us. That’s why they won two out of three."

Now the Hogs face a road trip to Florida beginning next Friday. After that is a huge home series against the No. 1 Texas Longhorns May 1-3.

Texas Longhorns outfielder Tommy Farmer IV celebrates making it to second base in the third inning as the Longhorns beat the Auburn Tigers in the second game of a three-game series on Friday night at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin. | Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Longhorns have won nine of their last 10 games, including six-of-seven against SEC foes. The Longhorns defeated Auburn in their first two games Thursday and Friday in Austin.

Arkansas' 6:30 p.m. game Tuesday can be seen on SEC Network Plus while Wednesday's 5 p.m. contest will be broadcast on the SEC Network.

Friday's 5:30 p.m. game and Sunday's noon tilt are on SEC Network Plus with Saturday's 2 p.m. start televised on SEC Network.

While the Hogs are no longer ranked No. 1 and will drop from the No. 2 spot they occupied this week, they remain a top contender to reach the College World Series. They just need to get back on track.