FAYETTEVILLE — Will McEntire waited two years to get one other shot to pitch for the College of Arkansas.
After McEntire made his first begin as a freshman in opposition to Gonzaga on April 10, 2020, and in 6 innings allowed 6 hits and 1 run with out a stroll and had 3 strikeouts, the Razorbacks performed only one extra recreation earlier than the season was shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.
McEntire, a right-hander from Bryant, then redshirted final season.
Two weeks in the past when the Razorbacks performed a doubleheader in opposition to the College of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, McEntire made his first look since 2020.
Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn mentioned he made the choice to start out McEntire within the second recreation in opposition to the Golden Lions after a gathering with him and pitching coach Matt Hobbs.
“Will mentioned, ‘Hey, I would like an opportunity,’ ” Van Horn mentioned. “And I mentioned, ‘Let’s give him an opportunity,’ and Coach Hobbs needed to provide him an opportunity.”
McEntire made essentially the most of his likelihood, throwing three shutout innings within the Razorbacks’ 6-0 victory over UAPB.
“I assumed he did a extremely good job for a man that hadn’t pitched all 12 months,” Van Horn mentioned.
That efficiency earned McEntire one other begin in opposition to Arkansas State College final Wednesday and he went 4 2/3 innings and allowed 1 run in Arkansas’ 10-3 victory.
McEntire (1-0, 1.17 ERA) will begin once more when the No. 4 Razorbacks (31-9) play the College of Central Arkansas (18-20) at 6 tonight at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock.
“Actually, I used to be simply ready for the possibility,” McEntire mentioned final week. “I knew as soon as I used to be given the chance that I may run with it.”
McEntire has 10 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.
“I actually preferred him out of highschool,” mentioned UCA Coach Nick Harlan, the Bears’ pitching coach the earlier eight seasons. “I assumed he did a pleasant job, and Arkansas’ teaching workers has achieved a extremely good job along with his growth.
“I’m positive he’s gaining confidence each time he goes out now that he’s beginning to see some innings. I do know he has good things. He’s a really sturdy child and has a gifted arm.”
UCA (18-20) will begin sophomore left-hander Oliver Laufman (0-0, 10.24 ERA), a switch from Edmonds (Wash.) Group School.
Laufman, who was sidelined earlier this season by arm soreness, pitched properly in his most up-to-date look, holding Memphis to 1 run and a couple of hits in 4 innings within the Tigers’ 3-1 victory over the Bears final Tuesday. He pitched two scoreless innings at Vanderbilt on March 1 when the Commodores beat UCA 5-2.
“It’s good to see Oliver get wholesome and have some success,” Harlan mentioned. “We’re enthusiastic about getting him on the mound once more.”
Harlan mentioned Laufman throws a fastball that’s normally 88 to 91 miles per hour and likewise has an excellent slider and changeup.
“What I like most about him is he doesn’t take any pitches off,” Harlan mentioned. “He’s acquired nice intent on every pitch.
“I feel that basically exhibits up on his competitiveness on the mound. We have now plenty of confidence in him.”
Arkansas and UCA are taking part in for simply the third time since 1948, however the second time this season.
The Razorbacks beat the Bears 21-8 final season and 21-9 two weeks in the past. Each video games had been at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville.
Arkansas is the house staff tonight, however the recreation might be performed simply 28 minutes from the UCA campus in Conway.
The sport is a sellout and received’t be accessible to look at through streaming.
“It’s an amazing venue, a extremely neat ballpark,” Harlan mentioned of Arkansas Vacationers’ dwelling. “We have now plenty of children who grew up going to minor league baseball video games there and have plenty of good reminiscences with their households.
“I feel we’ll have plenty of Bear followers there. It’s going to be an amazing crowd, and that’s nice for the state and nice for each colleges concerned.”
Arkansas is 9-1 at Dickey-Stephens Park, however is taking part in there for the primary time since 2018 when the Razorbacks beat Grambling 17-3. The Razorbacks didn’t play in North Little Rock the earlier two seasons due to Covid-19 security protocols.
“I recognize the followers in central Arkansas,” Van Horn mentioned. “They observe us fairly good, [and in playing North Little Rock] makes it simpler for them to catch a recreation.”
Van Horn mentioned he would like to play at Dickey-Stephens Park following a house SEC sequence slightly than taking part in on the street at Texas A&M because the Razorbacks did final weekend.
“The SEC doesn’t get our schedule out to us till actually late, and we’ve acquired [games in North Little Rock] scheduled a few years prematurely,” Van Horn mentioned. “It’s what it’s. We’ve acquired to journey again, journey there, then prepare for Ole Miss this weekend.
“However I get pleasure from going there. I feel the followers are superior. As soon as we get there and get settled in, able to go, our guys might be excited to be there.”
UCA jumped forward of Arkansas 3-0 within the first inning of the sport two weeks in the past. Connor Emmet hit a house run for the Bears, who completed with 13 hits.
“Our gamers had been aggressive and able to play,” Harlan mentioned. “That was good to see, and I anticipate that can occur once more.”
Arkansas rallied and scored its season-high for runs led by catcher Dylan Leach, who went 5 for five and hit for the cycle, together with two dwelling runs.
The Razorbacks hit seven dwelling runs with two by Jace Bohforen and one every by Jalen Battles, Braydon Webb and Peyton Stovall.
“They’ve expertise. They’ve ability,” Harlan mentioned. “You must execute actually good pitches. You must reply properly if you happen to make a mistake, or they’ll make you pay.”
The Razorbacks have received 13 consecutive video games in opposition to in-state groups and are 6-0 this season.
“I feel that’s in all probability a credit score to each their gamers and coaches,” Harlan mentioned. “The coaches have them ready for each recreation.”
Harlan mentioned it’s good to see a participant like McEntire be rewarded after ready his flip to pitch in an period with heavy roster turnover due to the switch portal.
“I feel it’s very cool,” Harlan mentioned. “It’s an amazing high quality while you see a younger man that’s affected person and he works laborious, and he’s loyal to this system that gave him an opportunity.”