It took a three-game sweep, but Arkansas has finally battled its way back into the top eight of the Southeastern Conference baseball standings.

After spending most of the season in 9th, 10th or even 11th place in the SEC, the Razorbacks are now in 8th place in the conference after three consecutive wins against South Carolina over the weekend. And the reason that's important is because only the top eight teams from the league advance to the SEC Tournament in Hoover, Ala.

Another reason it's so important for Arkansas to make the SEC Tournament is many believe it's neccessry to make an NCAA Regional as well. With just one regular season series remaining — at last place Mississippi State on Thursday through Saturday — the Razorbacks just need to hold onto one of the top eight spots and their NCAA ticket should all but be punched... 

Posted by Vernon Tarver at 04:24 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Nothing is going to match the drama and excitment provided by Jacob House on Friday. But the Arkansas Razorbacks are probably plenty happy with another come-from-behind win against South Carolina.

One day after House delivered a game-winning, grand slam homer in the bottom of the ninth, Arkansas again played from behind Saturday. This time, it was a four-run seventh inning that made the difference for the Hogs.

With the win, Arkansas still remains on the outside looking in as far as the SEC Tournament is concerned. But with the win, the Razorbacks also have made their task of advaning to Hoover, Ala. a whole lot easier.

The Diamond Hogs are currently 12-13 in the SEC, just one half game behind four different teams. That means Arkansas is not only an eyelash out of eighth place in the league, but an eyelash out of fifth place as well. 

Posted by Vernon Tarver at 06:43 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Arkansas freshman forward Michael Sanchez is headed to China. The UA athletics department announced today that Sanchez had been named to the Reach USA squad.

Reach USA, a division of the Christian sports ministry Sports Reach, is sending Sanchez and eight other college players to China for eight exhibition games against Chinese professional teams on May 11-25.

Sanchez, a 6-foot-8 Springdale Har Ber High graduate, redshirted last season but should figure heavily into coach John Pelphrey's frontcourt rotation this season.

Posted by Ryan Malashock at 01:40 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  Just got done with a post-spring practice press conference with Bobby Petrino. The post-spring depth chart was released. Nothing earth-shattering, but here are a few highlights from the gathering:

  • Petrino said cornerback Jerell Norton underwent surgery on his hamstring, which sidelined him most of the spring. Norton went down early in spring ball and didn't return. He isn't even listed on the three-deep depth chart at cornerback. Petrino said the surgery is supposed to help the recovery time and he expects Norton to be available when the Razorbacks return for fall practice in August.

  • Freddie Fairchild was another player not on the depth chart. He was suspended for the spring, of course, because of his arrest. Petrino simply said there was nothing new with Fairchild's status. Clearly his future with the Razorbacks remains uncertain. Which brings us to...

  • Petrino said the biggest concern leaving spring ball is depth at linebacker. Elston Forte, Jerry Franklin and Ryan Powers are the first-team guys for now. But the Razorbacks need more bodies at the position.

  • There was one surprise on the depth chart. Jake Bequette is listed as the first-team guy at defensive end ahead of Damario Ambrose. It may be a surprise to us, but Petrino said there is nothing shocking about Bequette's appearance with the starters. He said the redshirt freshman has earned it.

  • All in all, Petrino said the post-spring depth chart is nothing more than a "worksheet" to build on entering fall practice. The Razorbacks are taking final exams now. Summer school begins May 19. The summer conditioning program will get underway in June. Preseason practice begins August 3.
 

Posted by Robbie Neiswanger at 01:33 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by Chris Dunivan at 04:16 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  It appears Weston Dacus isn't the only former Arkansas defensive player who did enough this past weekend to earn an NFL contract as an undrafted free agent.

Posted by Alex Abrams at 10:09 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  Former Arkansas middle linebacker Weston Dacus agreed Monday to a two-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent.

  Dacus had hoped to be taken in last month’s NFL Draft, but he instead earned a deal with the Chiefs after impressing their coaches at a rookie minicamp this past weekend.

  “It felt great. I was disappointed at first; I was expecting to get drafted,” said Dacus, a Searcy native. “But everything happens for a reason, and Kansas City is close to home."

  Read more about Dacus in Tuesday's edition of The Morning News.

Posted by Alex Abrams at 03:00 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

After two losses to open the series against Alabama, the Arkansas Razorbacks knew they had to win Sunday. At least, if they hoped to play in the Southeastern Conference Tournament they had to win.

And that's just what the Diamond Hogs did, scoring the winning run on a stolen base throwing error in a 5-4 decision against the Crimson Tide.

Despite the two losses this weekend, Arkansas (28-20, 10-13 in the SEC) still somehow remains just one half game out of eighth place in the SEC. The Razorbacks, of course, need to get into the top eight to advance to the SEC Tournament.

Posted by Vernon Tarver at 05:47 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)