Hagen Smith Not As Good, but Dave Van Horn Wasn't Expecting Repeat

Top pitcher doesn't break school record from last weekend, but still strong in win Friday

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Don't get too caught up in that homer Arkansas Razorbacks pitcher Hagen Smith gave up right off the bat. Those kinds of things happen in baseball, but it didn't really last. Besides coach Dave Van Horn wasn't expecting what he did last Friday night.

"It’s tough, whenever you have an outing like he had last weekend," Van Horn said after a 5-1 win over Murray State on Friday afternoon. "For some people it’s once in a lifetime. I don’t think with him it’s going to be. I don’t expect him to be as good because it’s the outing after.He threw the ball extremely well. He gives up a leadoff home run and that was really about all they did with him. I think he walked one, struck out 12 and obviously gave us a chance to build up a lead."

The Razorbacks have stressed to Smith during the off-season to improve as a starter he needed to be more efficient. That seems to be happening, at least early. In the past, that's been a problem at times.

"He knew that was the key for him to be a really, really good starter," Van Horn said. "He’s all of that. He could have gone another inning, but we figured 81 was enough. Especially after last week and so much emotion, and everything that was going on. Good to get him out of there."

As if it really matters, Smith also plays defense. Nothing showed that more than when he hustled off the mound to start the sixth inning, got his glove on the ball and flipped it to Ben McLaughlin at first. The Racers' runner was originally ruled safe, but it was overturned on replay.

"That would have been a leadoff hit," Van Horn said. "He got to the ball. It was a perfect bunt and he flipped it with his glove, which was the play. (He) didn’t have time to get his hand down there at the same time. He flipped it a little high. McLaughlin did a good job of going on top of it and going to get it just a little bit. That was probably the difference once they reviewed it. It was a tough call. We weren't sure, we felt like he could be out. That was a big play and Hagen is one of the best defensive pitchers in our league every year."

Now it's Brady Tygart's turn on the mound Saturday. The Hogs will play the second game of the series at 2 p.m. The game will be available on ESPN+ and you can list on ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.

HOG FEED:

• Strong pitcher and some timely hitting led by Jayson Jones lifts Razorbacks past Murray State

• KJ Jefferson must be licking his chops with UCF

• Hogs hope to have couple of players back before season ends

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