Hogs' Coach Dave Van Horn Playing Bigger Picture

Midweek game against Missouri State really isn't objective Razorbacks wanting to reach

Author:
Andy Hodges
Publish date:
Apr 26, 2023 12:47 PM EDT

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Apparently, Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn was looking at a rare midweek road game about the way we thought.

"You need to play them because we've got to develop some guys," he said after an 8-4 loss at Missouri State on Tuesday night. "We may lose tonight, but it may help us win on Saturday or hopefully in the tournament down the road.

"We've got to get these guys ready."

In other words, he wanted to win the game against the Bears because coaches want to win every game. Van Horn is more concerned about winning in late May and getting to play in June.

Especially with all the injuries right now.

"We're just trying to get through the next couple of weeks until we get everybody back," he said. "This game can flip on a dime."

That will start this weekend with Texas A&M coming to Fayetteville for a key three-game series and the Hogs need to get back on the right side of things. The series starts Thursday and is scheduled through Saturday, depending on what the weather does (there is some rain in the forecast).

He's putting the loss Tuesday night off as one of those things that really, in the bigger picture, doesn't matter that much.

"We're not hanging our head or not thinking we're any good," he said. "We know we can play. We're just playing with guys that haven't been a part of the combination that got us to 30 wins coming into tonight."

Some people that didn't play against Missouri State will be in the lineup this weekend like Peyton Stovall. That was simply a game to allow him a chance to get some rest.

"We're just taking care of him," Van Horn said.

Others won't be playing like centerfielder Tavian Josenberger (hamstring).

The answer about him playing this weekend was a short and simple "no." Not much to understand about that.

Catcher Parker Rowland should be good to go and we may finally see Brady Tygart on the mound again. But where and when is kinda up in the air. When he was asked about Tygart starting, Van Horn decided to have a little fun.

"Wow, you must be reading our mind," he said. "You must have heard something. It could happen."

But he wasn't giving any clues, which is why he was having fun with it in the first place.

"We'll see," Van Horn said. "He's definitely going to be on the 27-man (roster) probably for the first time."

And that was as far as he was going.