Dave Van Horn provides overall assessment of Arkansas' SEC Tournament performance

The Arkansas Razorbacks’ run in the SEC tournament came to an end on Saturday following a loss to the Texas A&M Aggies. But before the Razorbacks packed up and headed back to Fayetteville, skipper Dave Van Horn provided his overall assessment of Arkansas’ SEC Tournament performance.

“Well, I feel good about some things,” said Van Horn. “I feel good about if we don’t make very many mistakes — I don’t think we made an error in three games here. I think we made one at Vanderbilt, and it might have been on a pitcher.”

How Arkansas ended this year’s tournament the same way they started it, with a knockdown drag-out fight against Texas A&M. The Razorbacks bested the Aggies in their first matchup 5-6, taking 11 innings to do so. But it was Texas A&M who got the last laugh as they upset the number two seed in the tournament Saturday afternoon 5-4.

“So I feel like if we can continue to do that, feel like our starting pitchers, for the most part are in good shape. They’ve got some rest. We didn’t over-pitch them, and a couple of bullpen guys had pretty good outings. I thought McEntyre was outstanding both outings. It says here he gave up three runs, but a couple freshmen walked in two of those for us.”

Arkansas had no easy roads to victory in this tournament, especially with how the rest of the conference performed in the regular season. After narrowly defeating the Aggies in the second round, the Razorbacks barely edged out the LSU Tigers 5-4 in the third round. But as Van Horn pointed out, Arkansas played all three games to near perfection, not recording a single error in any of the three contests.

“I don’t know, I feel good, except we’ve got to get our offense going. It’s the older guys. They’ve got to do it. If we don’t get the offense going, it’ll be a quick weekend for us.”

It is bittersweet for Arkansas and their fans as their lone loss of the SEC tournament came in the semifinal round, which is formatted to be single elimination. But that is in the past now, and what’s done is done. Still, the Arkansas players can hang their hats on playing some of the best baseball in this year’s tournament.

Up next for Arkansas is a day to unwind and rest on Sunday while Vanderbilt and Texas A&M fight for the SEC tournament crown. After the day of rest will be selection Monday, which all the Razorbacks and their fans will be closely tuned into. With the performance Arkansas put together this season, the Razorbacks have a legitimate chance at being a host team for the regional round of the men’s College World Series.