Arkansas battery discusses confidence in strong middle-infield play

On3 imageby:James Fletcher III06/22/22

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After advancing past Auburn in an elimination game on Tuesday, Arkansas sets up a rematch with Ole Miss at the College World Series. The effort was aided by a great performance on the mound from starting pitcher Will McEntire, who got some help up the middle from middle-infielders Robert Moore and Jalen Battles throughout the night.

During the postgame press conference, Will McEntire had high praise for the defense behind him, especially the two through the middle who turned multiple double plays and kept the ball in the infield on multiple occasions.

“Those two up the middle, you get a ball to either one of them, I never have a doubt they’re going to make a play on it,” said McEntire.

Catcher Michael Turner, who transferred to Arkansas and took over the starting job this year, also chimed in on the opportunity to watch Robert Moore and Jalen Battles play behind his pitcher.

“It’s nice,” added Turner. “I feel like especially if you happen to get behind in the count, I can just set up middle because I trust our defense so much. We’ve been saying that all year. Those guys are ridiculous up the middle. It’s fun to watch for sure.”

Jalen Battles converts web gem

Arkansas shortstop Jalen Battles pulled off one of the best defensive plays of the college baseball season during an elimination game against SEC foe Auburn on Tuesday night. The senior pulled off an unlikely double play which seemed too good to be true but was held up by video replay after a challenge from the opposing dugout.

With one out and a runner on first base, Auburn first baseman Sonny DiChiara hit a groundball to the left side where Jalen Battles fielded it with a double play in mind. Before he could make the throw to first, he had to win a foot race to second base to get the force out there and avoid a collision with the runner in the process.

Battles managed to edge out the runner, then leaping up off his right foot while delivering a strike to first in time to get DiChiara out. Confident that he had made the play, he trotted to first after carrying his follow through and waited near the dugout for the umpires to confirm the call.

With plays like that behind Arkansas’ solid pitching staff, there is no question how they made it to this point in the postseason with a chance to advance into the championship series.