OMAHA, Nebraska – Predictions set the 2022 baseball season in Arkansas, but perhaps no one more than baseball major Peyton Stovall.
The hugely popular freshman turned down the “life-changing” money and MLB Draft to play in Arkansas, but he made it to 0.251 before the NCAA Championship. More numbers were expected for Stovall after he picked up the pre-season awards.
Since starting play in the tournament, Stovall has been one of Arkansas’ biggest offensive arms. He hits 0.525 in the Razorbacks’ nine post-season games, and could improve that number when the Arkansas play the Ole Miss in a must-win match Wednesday (6 p.m. CT, ESPN).
Stovall’s impressive post-season start prompted Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn to change the batting order on Tuesday before the Razorbacks (45-20) beat Auburn (43-22). He switched Stovall and set hitter Brady Slavens, moving Stovall from the eight hole to the two hole.
It worked. In the 11-1 win over Auburn, Stovall became the first player since 2009 and the first Razorback to five strokes in a single game of the College World Championships. It was 5 against 6 with four singles, a double, three RBIs and two runs. The last player to hit five in Omaha was North Carolina’s Dustin Ackley.
Watch:See Peyton Stovall answers cool kids’ questions about Arkansas baseball, Top Gun at CWS
a summary:Arkansas baseball avoids elimination, dominates Auburn at College World Series
next one:How to watch an Ole Miss vs. baseball game. Arkansas Razorbacks on TV, live Wednesday at CWS
“He had unrealistic expectations of him because he was a man who refused a lot of money,” Van Horn said of Stovall. “He felt a lot of pressure… (but) we were really able to see the future in the last month.”
Stovall was the star of the offensive effort that helped Arkansas avoid elimination from the College World Series. But on the hill, starter bowler Will McIntyre was making history of his own.
The right-handed sophomore in Red made his fourth start against the Power Five on Tuesday. He’s lasted seven innings and hit nine hits in his career, including six straight hits in the second and third rounds.
Nine Ks McEntire ranked second among all-time Razorback shooters in a single College World Series game. Isaiah Campbell cheered 10 games against Florida State in 2019.
“He didn’t get a lot of chances early on, and when he had the chance, he shone,” fisherman Michael Turner said of McIntyre. We hope it continues.”
McEntire’s exceptional start helped Arkansas Chances advance to the CWS Final. Arkansas used only two bulls, Zebulon Vermillion and Austin Ledbetter, for their respective roles. That leaves plenty of new offers for Wednesday’s must-win match against the Ole Miss.
“You never know how this thing will happen,” Van Horn said. “Baseball is a funny game, and whatever it takes, that’s what we’ll do (Wednesday).”
Christina Long covers the Arkansas Razorbacks. You can email her at clong@swtimes.com or follow her on Twitter Tweet embed
