Hogwired.com: Late Inning Swoon Upends Diamond Hogs

Tim Smalling had three hits for the Arkansas baseball team but an eighth inning outburst by the Alabama handed the Razorbacks their second loss to the Crimson Tide, 11-6, at Baum Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Also:

• Hogwired.com: Box Score (PDF)
• Vernon Tarver: Razor-Backs Against The Wall, Diamond Hogs Notebook
• Rick Fires: Big 8th inning wins it for Tide
• Chris Cocoles: Hogs put themselves right back in hole
• David Showers: Bashed by Bama

Updated 5/4/08 10:30 a.m.

Hopes for the postseason are also on the rise.  As their RPI continues to climb (Rivals #26), the most recent projection by Southeastern Baseball has the Hogs making the field of 64.

No doubt a 3-8 SEC start had many thinking about next year.  But after three straight conference series wins over Florida, Tennessee, and Ole Miss, it looks like the bats and starting pitching have finally started coming together at the same time.

Dallas Keuchel (3-2, 4.17), Cliff Springston (5-2, 3.74), and Justin Wells (3-0, 4.97) have all given solid starting performances of late.  And that’s allowed pitching coach Dave Jorn to mostly avoid using an inconsistent bullpen that has blown several big leads this season.

The Razorbacks have recently started finding their stroke at the plate, as well.  Catcher Ryan Cisterna carried the team (three home runs and five RBI) during the Tennessee series.  And infielder Tim Smalling caught fire with four home runs and seven RBIs during Saturday’s doubleheader in Oxford.  Outfielder Chase Leavitt (.509 on-base percentage) has been providing a spark at the top of the batting order.

After a mid-week game tonight against Missouri State, this weekend’s series at home with Alabama will be huge.  Sitting only 1.5 games out of first place in the Western Division, and with two of the final three series at Baum Stadium, the Hogs are poised to make a late charge to finish up what has been a roller coaster of a regular season.