Hogs Dave Van Horn: Gets Complete Game to 'Save' Pitching Staff

Will McEntire hurls a complete three-hitter with solid defense behind him to re-set staff
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn probably needed Will McEntire's complete game Saturday.

"Obviously it was just a great job by Will McEntire, who gave us a great outing when we needed it," he said after a 6-1 win over Louisiana Tech to clinch the series.

After using several pitchers in a tougher-than-expected midweek win over Army, just running people to the mound was getting dicey with a busy week ahead.

"We were hoping we weren’t going have to double up too much, if any, this weekend," he said later. That was big for our bullpen and I am sure it was big for his confidence."

It was.

"I just felt like I had most of my pitches today," McEntire said after giving up just three hits and only one run. "We knew they were going to be aggressive."

The big pitch was a cutter that set up everything else.

"He was locating pretty much wherever he wanted," Van Horn said, "whenever he wanted it and that cutter was REALLY good. We could see that from the dugout."

Arkansas (12-2) is now set up to sweep the three-game series in Sunday’s 1 p.m. finale with the Bulldogs (8-6).

Hunter Hollan (2-0, 2.30) will take the mound for Arkansas, who had Friday stater Hagen Smith (3-0, 1.40) enter the fifth inning with a no-hitter in what turned into a 7-4 Razorback win.

Next week, the Hogs have a Tuesday-Wednesday pair of games with UNLV before SEC play starts with a weekend series against Auburn at Baum-Walker Stadium.

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HOGS FEED:

LIVE BLOG OF HOGS' GETTING 6-1 WIN OVER LOUISIANA TECH WITH WILL McENTIRE'S COMPLETE GAME

NOT REALLY SURPRISING WHEN ST. JOHN'S FIRED FORMER RAZORBACKS COACH

GOOD SURPRISES HIGHLIGHT INITIAL OBSERVATIONS OF REBUILT RAZORBACKS

LATE SHOT BY NICK SMITH HELPS HOGS AVOID SEC TOURNEY DISASTER

PITTMAN BEGINS SPRING PRACTICE AS TRUE HEAD COACH FOR FIRST TIME

HOW LONG CAN ARKANSAS USE THE FRANK BROYLES ERA TO BOOST ITS SUCCESS IMAGE?

DO THESE RAZORBACKS STARS WANT TO BE LEGENDS OR QUICKLY FORGOTTEN?

TAUREAN CARTER MAY BE LIMITED, BUT HE WILL BE ON FIELD THIS SPRING

PITTMAN SPEAKS FOR FIRST TIME AS SPRING PRACTICE LOOMS

IF ESPN DOESN'T PAY, SEC WILL MAKE SURE ARKANSAS DOES

PITTMAN MAY LAUD PROPOSED SCHEDULE WHILE SABAN WHINES

LOOKING AT RAZORBACKS' ROSTER AHEAD OF SPRING PRACTICE STARTING THIS WEEK

SEC BASKETBALL STANDINGS

FAYETTEVILLE WEATHER UPDATE

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Andy Hodges
ANDY HODGES

Sports columnist, writer, former radio host and television host who has been expressing an opinion on sports in the media for over four decades. He has been at numerous media stops in Arkansas, Texas and Mississippi.