Razorbacks Can Clinch First SEC Series on Saturday

Hogs coach Dave Van Horn juggled the pitchers, now look to knock down Auburn

Author:
Andy Hodges
Publish date:
Mar 18, 2023 12:54 AM EDT

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — We're starting to get a better idea what this Arkansas team is going to be this year.

As Razorbacks coach Dave Van Horn has said, this team just keeps playing. More importantly they keep winning.

They play pretty solid defensively, are starting have settled down the pitching staff after all the injuries and usually find a way to get key hits when they need them.

Hunter Hollan gave the Hogs what they needed with six solid innings and Hagen Smith coming out of the bullpen and finishing things up. He worked six innings, gave up a pair of runs and scattered six hits.

"(Hollan) threw the ball pretty good," Van Horn said later. "The strike zone was pretty tight, both ways, consistent.

"Hunter did a really good job. Really his best inning might have been like the fifth. He just rolled in the fifth. Then we gave him the sixth and he got through it."

Smith came in and shut down the Tigers over the last three innings.

That's a formula Van Horn can win ballgames with, getting solid defensive play to start things.

"We played really well today when you look at the plays we made defensively," Van Horn said. "Especially early in the game."

Give him a solid shutdown guy out of the bullpen and Van Horn has shown he can work with that.

Now the Hogs can clinch the first SEC series of the season on Saturday at 2 p.m. It will be streamed on SEC Network+