COLUMN: Arkansas baseball knocks off JMU on Opening Day as hope returns to Fayetteville

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Opening Day is synonymous with hope. Across the country, a new season brings limitless expectations, especially for an Arkansas baseball team that was picked to win the SEC and is a popular choice from national pundits to go on and win the College World Series.

But in Fayetteville, there’s also a sense of desperation.

Razorbacks fans have experienced a brutal six-month stretch. The football and men’s basketball teams both failed to live up to expectations, with just two combined home SEC victories in this academic year. The football team lost its final two games in Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium by an average of 36 points. The basketball team has lost four conference games by at least 20 points.

Baum-Walker Stadium was covered by dark grey clouds throughout Friday afternoon, but the shine of optimism finally returned. No. 4 Arkansas (1-0) knocked off James Madison (0-1) 6-4 to open its season with a victory in front of a packed, frigid audience.

“Fans were amazing. I couldn’t believe how many people were here, honestly,” Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said.

“That was an amazing job by our fans showing up and supporting our team like that today. I know that I appreciate it and I know that our players really appreciate it. I’m looking forward to the weather getting better and having some good crowds and hopefully they’ll get to relax out there and not shiver the whole game.”

Some fans arrived nearly two hours before first pitch, braving the dropping temperatures and misting rain to be the first ones inside the ballpark. Lawn chairs and flags filled the Hog Pen in left field within minutes of the gates opening to the public. The stadium was ready for liftoff.

Instead, the season started with a rapid thud. Hagen Smith, the SEC preseason Pitcher of the Year, lasted just one inning and gave up a three-run bomb to Fenwick Trimble. James Madison led Arkansas 3-0 before the Razorbacks’ first at-bat of the spring.

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Another home disappointment? No, this Arkansas team is different. The Razorbacks scored two runs in each of the next three innings. The James Madison lead didn’t last more than 30 minutes.

“It’s just like, you can take a punch and get right back up and throw some more at them,” Arkansas pitcher Will McEntire said.

The national championship buzz around this Arkansas team starts with its pitching staff, and the Hogs showed they’ve got capable arms aside from Smith. McEntire (1-0) relieved the Friday starter and gave up just one earned run in 5 2/3 innings to pick up the win. He struck out six batters and pounded the zone with just one walk.

Gage Wood picked up the save, recording the final seven outs without giving up a run. The sophomore righty struck out four James Madison batters behind an electric fastball.

The offense also showed off its depth. Jared Sprague-Lott would not have started on Opening Day without an injury to Peyton Holt, but the Richmond transfer was the Hogs’ star Friday, going 2-for-2 with a home run, two RBIs and two walks out of the eight-hole. Hudson White also hit a home run for Arkansas, and all six runs were scored by six different Razorbacks.

“It was definitely a ton of fun,” Sprague-Lott said of his Arkansas debut. “It was mind-blowing to see that many people dedicated to this program and to see all of us. It was a ton of fun to be out there.”

There are many more games and much stiffer challenges on the horizon for Arkansas. Smith must pitch better for this team to achieve its ambitions. The middle of the lineup needs more timely hits to capitalize on insurance opportunities.

But for at least one day, Hog fans can put the miseries of recent football and basketball seasons behind them. The sun will come out and a new hope has arrived.

Opening Day felt like just the beginning.