Need For Speed: Hogs Looking to Pick Spots to Add New Dimension
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas is on pace for 168 stolen bases in the regular season. Of course, it's fun to do these ridiculous season projections after just one game. The Razorbacks swiped three bags, including a double steal, in the season-opening win against the James Madison Dukes.
The Hogs stole just 53 bags in 69 attempts last year, which put Arkansas ninth in the SEC in total steals, and 11th in success rate (76.8%). Tavian Josenberger led the team with 13 stolen bases.
While not actively looking to steal a certain number of bases, coach Dave Van Horn said his squad should not be underestimated in terms of speed.
"We have some guys that can run a little bit," Van Horn said. "We got some guys that are sneaky fast."
Two new transfers come in with serious speed and base-stealing prowess. Ty Wilmsmeyer finished second in the SEC with 21 stolen bases. Fellow Missouri transfer Ross Lovich finished the 2022 season with 12 stolen bases. Will Edmunson finished his JUCO season with 15 stolen bases. The next highest returning Razorback was Peyton Holt, a perfect 6-for-6 ,mostly off the bench.
Most importantly, the Hogs need to run smart and not make additional outs on the base paths, which was a mixed bag in the season opener. Wilmsmeyer got picked off, and the Razorbacks were rather fortuitous on the double steal. Holt, the trail runner, for whatever reason did not slide, and the throw caromed in front of the bag and Holt was safe standing up.
Arkansas Razorbacks third baseman James Sprague-Lott at first base in the Hogs' season-opening 6-4 win over James Madison on Friday at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.
Campbell Roberson / Arkansas Communications
"The runner at first decided that they weren’t going to throw at second," Van Horn said. "He didn’t even look or he didn’t even slide. We’ve already talked about it. That was — I wish the ball would have clipped him and went into center field, that would have been a really smart play."
Arkansas will still hit plenty of bombs and slug the baseball at a high clip, but expect a stolen base sprinkled in here and there.
"We will run when we have the right opportunity and maybe catch them off guard a little bit," Van Horn said. "I think that’s what we did a little bit today."
The Razorbacks will continue the four-game series against James Madison 2 p.m. Feb. 16. The game will be streamed on SEC Network+.
HOG FEED:
TRANSFER THIRD BASEMAN SHINES IN RAZORBACK DEBUT
MCENTIRE BAILS OUT PITCHING STAFF IN SEASON-OPENING WIN OVER JAMES MADISON
RAZORBACK BASEBALL 2024 SEASON PRIMER
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