Hogs Dave Van Horn: Gets Complete Game to 'Save' Pitching Staff

Will McEntire hurls a complete three-hitter with solid defense behind him to re-set staff

Author:
Andy Hodges
Publish date:
Mar 11, 2023 9:40 PM EST

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn probably needed Will McEntire's complete game Saturday.

"Obviously it was just a great job by Will McEntire, who gave us a great outing when we needed it," he said after a 6-1 win over Louisiana Tech to clinch the series.

After using several pitchers in a tougher-than-expected midweek win over Army, just running people to the mound was getting dicey with a busy week ahead.

"We were hoping we weren’t going have to double up too much, if any, this weekend," he said later. That was big for our bullpen and I am sure it was big for his confidence."

It was.

"I just felt like I had most of my pitches today," McEntire said after giving up just three hits and only one run. "We knew they were going to be aggressive."

The big pitch was a cutter that set up everything else.

"He was locating pretty much wherever he wanted," Van Horn said, "whenever he wanted it and that cutter was REALLY good. We could see that from the dugout."

Arkansas (12-2) is now set up to sweep the three-game series in Sunday’s 1 p.m. finale with the Bulldogs (8-6).

Hunter Hollan (2-0, 2.30) will take the mound for Arkansas, who had Friday stater Hagen Smith (3-0, 1.40) enter the fifth inning with a no-hitter in what turned into a 7-4 Razorback win.

Next week, the Hogs have a Tuesday-Wednesday pair of games with UNLV before SEC play starts with a weekend series against Auburn at Baum-Walker Stadium.