Arkansas

Arkansas baseball: 3 important tasks for Dave Van Horn this offseason

Published

6 months ago

June 5, 2024

Arkansas baseball: 3 important tasks for Dave Van Horn this offseason

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas baseball head coach Dave Van Horn is already thinking about the future.

The Razorbacks (44-16) watched their season come to an end Sunday in a 6-3 loss to Southeast Missouri State in the Fayetteville Regional. Arkansas was ranked No. 1 in the country for nearly half the season, but the Hogs weren’t even one of the top two teams in their own regional.

A long offseason is ahead, and here are the three biggest tasks Dave Van Horn and his coaching staff must accomplish in the next year.

Develop the bats already with Arkansas baseball

Shortstop Wehiwa Aloy is the only everyday starter from this year’s team projected to return in 2025. After hitting .270 with a team-high 14 home runs and 56 RBIs, he should slot into the heart of the lineup next year.

It’s imperative that hitting coach Nate Thompson maximizes other returnees who are already on the roster. The most notable names in this category are freshmen Ryder Helfrick and Nolan Souza.

More: COLUMN: Arkansas baseball has a postseason problem, and Dave Van Horn has a year to fix it

More: Arkansas baseball: What went wrong in Fayetteville region for Razorbacks

Helfrick arrived in Fayetteville with plenty of hype, but he couldn’t find consistency at the plate and finished the year with a .179 batting average and just eight RBIs. Souza got scorching hot midway through the season and early in the SEC slate, but he fell off a cliff down thme stretch recording just one hit in May.

Helfrick needs to be the starting catcher, and Souza must join Aloy in the middle of the batting order. Get those two rolling, and Van Horn will already have a core group of hitters to build around.

Any other in-house growth would be a bonus. Jayson Jones was the starting left fielder on opening day, but he never got going. Will Edmunson lacked the hitting juice to carve out a meaningful role while Reese Robinett redshirted. Can freshman Kade Smith become a contributor?

Maximizing the pieces already inside the program needs to be the primary focus. This year, Arkansas had just two everyday starters who began their college careers in Fayetteville. Perhaps the reliance on transfers is a reason the offense has struggled so mightily in back-to-back seasons.

An open competition for the weekend rotation

It was obvious from the beginning of the fall that Hagen Smith, Brady Tygart and Mason Molina would be the weekend starters for Arkansas in 2024. All three of those arms are likely leaving the program this offseason.

Who replaces them in the rotation will be a key storyline. Rising sophomore Gabe Gaeckle figures to be a starter, but the other two spots are wide open. Ben Bybee made seven starts this spring, but he finished with a 5.83 ERA. Gage Wood moved into the rotation late in the year and faired well, while freshmen Colin Fisher and Hunter Dietz both dealt with injuries.

Those five names figure to be the leading candidates, but there are only three spots in the weekend rotation, and there could be some other competitors on the way.

Land (at least) three big fish in the transfer portal

Aloy, Molina and Hudson White were the headliners of the 2023 transfer class. Arkansas needs three more stars this offseason.

The Hogs will undoubtedly target two more bats, but there’s a case for trying to get three with how many starting spots are up for grabs. Bats are the top priority, but Van Horn and pitching coach Matt Hobbs will surely try and find another pitcher who can compete for a starting role.

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Arkansas

How to Watch: Mizzou Basketball Hosts Arkansas Pine-Bluff

Published

6 mins ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

How to Watch: Mizzou Basketball Hosts Arkansas Pine-Bluff

The Missouri Tigers have been rolling through their non-conference schedule. After a loss on the road to Memphis to open the season, Missouri has won the first four games of a 10-game stretch at home.

Sunday, Missouri will take on Arkansas Pine-Bluff in one of its final two matches before it faces another high major opponent: California in the second annual SEC-ACC challenge on Dec. 3.

Here’s how to watch and find Sunday afternoon’s matchup for the Missouri Tigers.

Who: Missouri Tigers (4-1, 0-0 SEC) vs. Arkansas Pine-Bluff Golden Lions (1-5, 0-0 SWA)

What: Missouri’s sixth game of the 2024-’25 season

Where: Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo.

When: Sunday, November 24, 4:00 p.m.

TV: ESPN+, SECN+

Radio: Tiger Radio Network

Series: Missouri leads 3-0

Last Meeting: Nov. 6, 2023: Missouri opened the season with a 101-79 win over Arkansas Pine-Bluff. Five different players scored over 15 points for Missouri, including Sean East II, Nick Honor, Noah Carter, Caleb Grill and Tamar Bates.

Last Time Out, Missouri: The Tigers handled business in a 91-56 win over Pacific. Guard Caleb Grill continued a hot streak, leading the team with 25 points, including 21 from three-point makes. Grill also notched a career-high with five steals.

Last Time Out, Arkansas Pine-Bluff:The Golden Lions fell on the road to Texas Tech, losing 98-64. Arkansas Pine-Bluff shot 52.1% from the field while Texas Tech shot 59.7%. The Golden Lions were led by guard Christian Moore with 20 points.

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Arkansas

Business people | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Published

9 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Business people | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Drew Waack has been appointed as mortgage adviser for United Federal Credit Union in Rogers. Waack is based at United’s Promenade branch, 2000 S. Promenade Blvd. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from John Brown University and an associate of arts and sciences degree from the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.

Makyla Jackson has been hired by Kutak Rock LLP as an associate in the firm’s commercial litigation practice and will be working in the firm’s Fayetteville office. Jackson earned her law degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law, Fayetteville, and a bachelor of science in business administration from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

Kayla Sherrill has been hired by Kutak Rock LLP as an associate for the firm’s litigation practice and will be working in the firm’s Rogers office. Sherrill earned her law degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law, Fayetteville, and a bachelor of science from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

Chelsey Deel has been hired as associate professor of pathology for the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. Deel earned her bachelor’s degree in biology at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and her medical degree at the University of Texas Heath Science Center at San Antonio.

Alexis Gillett has been hired as associate professor of anatomy for the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. Gillett received her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, her doctorate of physical therapy from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and her doctor of education in educational leadership from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.

Stephen Nix has been hired as assistant professor of pathology for the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. Nix received his bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville and his medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.

Trager Hintze has been hired as assistant professor of pharmacology for the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. Hintze received his bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from Southern Virginia University and his doctor of pharmacy from Idaho State University.

Briefs are for people in Northwest Arkansas who are new hires, were promoted, received an award from outside their organization or received a certification. Email: [email protected] Information must be received by noon Wednesday prior to the Sunday the item is to be published.

Hintze

Nix

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Arkansas

Arkansas becomes bowl eligible with win over Louisiana Tech

Published

17 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Arkansas becomes bowl eligible with win over Louisiana Tech

FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas Razorbacks (6-5, 3-4 SEC) secured bowl eligibility with a 35-14 win over the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (4-7, 3-4 CUSA) on Saturday at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

The Razorback offense struggled in the first half and only scored 14 points before the two teams went to the locker rooms at halftime. Quarterback Taylen Green threw an interception, wide receiver Andrew Armstrong fumbled and the Hogs punted three times in the first two quarters.

Outside of the fumble, Armstrong had a strong game that put him into the Arkansas record books. With his eight reception, 81-yard game, he became the fifth player in school history to reach 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. Armstrong also took sole position of second place in school history for single-season receptions with 69 on the season.

Arkansas’ offense fared somewhat better in the second half with a touchdown pass to wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa — his second of the day — an eight-yard touchdown run by Green and a 13-yard score on the ground by running back Ja’Quinden Jackson. It wasn’t much, but it was all the Hogs needed to get the win.

For the game, Arkansas gained 454 yards, 221 through the air and 233 on the ground. Running back Rashod Dubinion got the start and was the Razorbacks’ leading rusher with 112 yards on 15 carries.

Ill-timed penalties plagued the Hogs several times in the game, the biggest was a holding penalty wiped out a kickoff return for a touchdown on the opening kick. A roughing the passer call took away an interception late in the third quarter; Arkansas committed eight penalties for 78 yards throughout the game.

The Arkansas defense had another strong performance and held the Bulldogs to just 229 yards in the game, 190 through the air and 39 on the ground. They did give up two touchdowns, but it’s worth noting a muffed punt by Isaiah Sategna put Louisiana Tech in plus territory, which led to the first touchdown. The second touchdown came with just under six minutes to go, a 20-yard pass to wide receiver Jimmy Holliday on 3rd and 17.

The win will send the Razorbacks to a bowl game for the fourth time in the last five seasons, and they will turn their sights to a rivalry matchup with Missouri next Friday. Check out some of the highlights from the game below…

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