Hogs pitcher Mary Haff pitched in both games of Monday’s doubleheader against LSU and how they kept working after last year’s shutdown.
O’Gara on Harris’ impact on Phil’s beloved Steelers after draft
Phil Elson’s Steelers took Najee Harris in the first round of last week’s NFL Draft and he talked about that with Saturday Down South’s Connor O’Gara.
Franklin named SEC’s top player for last week after big series
Frank the Tank.
Christian Franklin was named the SEC Player of the Week on Monday after powering the top-ranked Razorbacks to a series win against LSU in Baton Rouge for the first time since 2004.
The outfielder, who slashed .545/.571/1.000 for the weekend, drove in a team-leading 10 runs to help Arkansas secure its program-record seventh consecutive SEC series win.
Franklin had at least one hit and RBI in all three games of the series, including two multi-hit and two multi-RBI performances. He tallied two hits and five RBI in Friday’s series opener, slugging a three-run homer — his 10th of the year — in the Hogs’ 7-0 win.
He began Saturday’s doubleheader with a three-hit, four-RBI effort in the Razorbacks’ 17-10 victory before tacking on another RBI in the nightcap to conclude his weekend.
Franklin also dazzled defensively, throwing out a runner at third from right center in the first game of the series.
Six Hogs have now earned weekly honors from the conference this season. Franklin joins pitcher Caleb Bolden (Co-Pitcher of the Week, Feb. 23), catcher Casey Opitz (Co-Player of the Week, March 22), designated hitter Matt Goodheart (Player of the Week, March 29), outfielder Cayden Wallace (Co-Freshman of the Week, April 12 and 19) and reliever Kevin Kopps (Co-Pitcher of the Week, April 26) as Arkansas’ recipients.
Franklin and the Razorbacks get back to work this weekend in the friendly confines of Baum-Walker Stadium, hosting Georgia for a three-game conference series.
The action begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday on SEC Network+.
Musselman brings former Nevada assistant to Hogs’ staff
Gus Argenal, who worked two seasons at Nevada for Razorback head coach Eric Musselman, will rejoin his mentor as an assistant coach at Arkansas.
Overall, Argenal brings 17 years of collegiate coaching experience.
“I have known Gus and his strong reputation in the basketball community for many years,” Musselman said. “He was a big part of our success at Nevada. He already knows our philosophy and terminology and has a great relationship with our staff so he will fit in immediately.
“Our players will enjoy his passion, his energy and his coaching style. Gus additionally has head coaching experience which was important to me. I know he will be a positive influence in our program and be a great representative for the University.”
Argenal comes to Fayetteville after serving two seasons as associate head coach at Cal State Fullerton.
“The opportunity to join Coach Musselman’s staff at the University of Arkansas is a dream come true,” Argenal said. “In two short years, Coach Muss has taken the program to a championship level and I look to help him continue that trajectory.
“The combination of recruiting elite student-athletes, being supported by an amazing fan base, and competing in the renowned Bud Walton Arena make Fayetteville an unparalleled place.
“My wife, our two sons and I cannot wait to be a part of the northwest Arkansas community.”
This past season (2020-21), Fullerton ranked 11th in the NCAA and led the Big West in 3-point field goal percentage (.384) and guard Tray Maddox Jr., was tabbed second team All-Big West.
In his first year with the program (2019-20), the Titans had their season cut short due to COVID-19.
However, Argenal helped Jackson Rowe and Brandon Kamga claim second team All-Big West honors while Kamga was also named Big West Newcomer of the Year.
Argenal joined the Titans after spending the 2017-18 season as an assistant coach and the 2018-19 season as the associate head coach at Nevada.
The Wolf Pack went to the NCAA Tournament both years, including the Sweet 16 in his first season, and won the Mountain West Championship both years as well.
They also won 29 games in each season, tying the school record.
Argenal spent four seasons (2013-17) as the head coach of the Cal State East Bay Pioneers, an NCAA Division II school, and posted a 35-76 record.
Prior to being named the head coach at Cal State East Bay he was an assistant coach during the 2012-13 season at Rice.
He spent the 2011-12 year at UC Davis as an assistant coach after a three-year stint as an assistant coach at Chico State (2008-11). From 2006-08 he was the director of operations at UT San Antonio.
His first stint as an assistant coach at UCD came in 2005-06 after working as a graduate assistant at Arizona State in 2004-05.
Argenal was a point guard who played at UC Davis and still holds the Aggies single-game record with 13 assists.
His senior season he topped the Aggies in assists and steals and helped the 2003-04 team post an 18-9 record. He received his undergraduate degree in history from UCD in 2004 and earned a master’s degree in education from Arizona State in 2005.
As a prep athlete, Argenal was a three-year starter at De La Salle High School (Concord, Calif.) under legendary head coach Frank Allocco.
As a senior and team captain in 1999, he led the Spartans to the Northern California regional finals and was named BVAL Most Valuable Player.
He is married to former UC Davis women’s basketball standout, the former Hannah Turner. The couple has two boys, Bo and Ace. Argenal is a second-generation American as his grandparents on his father’s side were born in Nicaragua.
ARGENAL FILE:
• Hometown: Concord, Calif. (De La Salle HS)
• Alma Mater: UC Davis, 2004 (Master’s: Arizona State, 2005)
• Wife: the former Hannah Turner
• Children: Sons Bo and Ace.
COACHING EXPERIENCE:
• 2004-05: Arizona State (Graduate Assistant Coach)
• 2005-06-: UC Davis (Assistant Coach)
• 2006-08: UT Arlington (Director of Basketball Operations)
• 2008-11: Chico State (Assistant Coach)
• 2011-12: UC Davis (Assistant Coach)
• 2012-13: Rice (Assistant Coach)
• 2013-17: Cal State East Bay (Head Coach)
• 2017-18: Nevada (Assistant Coach)
• 2018-19: Nevada (Associate Head Coach)
• 2019-21: Cal State Fullerton (Associate Head Coach)
• 2021-pres.: Arkansas (Assistant Coach)
Murphy on Hogs winning another series, but pitching questions still
Getting series win over LSU this past weekend was huge, Democrat-Gazette writer Tom Murphy said, but still need to settle some pitching.
Bud Light Seltzer Morning Rush Podcast: Baton Rouge stories
Tye & Tommy on the Baton Rouge trip, Hogs sign with NFL teams, Justin Smith’s decision and more!
Hogs split doubleheader with LSU for seventh league series win
BATON ROUGE, La. — Arkansas won a series in Baton Rouge for the first time since 2004.
The top-ranked Hogs split Saturday’s doubleheader at LSU, claiming a 17-10 win in game one of the twin bill to secure a seventh consecutive SEC series win.
The mark is a new program record, topping the previous best of six in a row during the 2004 and 2015 campaigns.
The Razorbacks, who dropped the nightcap, 5-4, are now 34-8 overall and 15-6 in SEC play following Saturday’s action at Alex Box Stadium.
The Hogs have a one-game lead over second-place Mississippi State.
Arkansas gets back to work next weekend in the friendly confines of Baum-Walker Stadium.
The Hogs host Georgia for a three-game conference series, which is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday, on SEC Network+.
Van Horn pleased overall winning weekend series over LSU
Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn was glad to get out of Baton Rouge with just the second series win over the Tigers in 17 seasons.
Razorbacks get 1-0 win over Tigers; one win from SEC title
BATON ROUGE, La. — Pinch hitter Ryan Jackson floated the go-ahead base hit to left in the top of the seventh inning and pitcher Mary Haff spun a complete game masterpiece as Arkansas took game one of the series, 1-0, at LSU on Saturday night in Baton Rouge.
With two games left this weekend, the Razorbacks (39-7, 18-4 SEC) are one win away from claiming at least a share of the program’s first SEC regular season title.
How it happened
Arkansas’ defense made big plays behind Haff to keep the game scoreless, stranding five LSU (28-16, 10-9 SEC) baserunners.
Second baseman Keely Huffine made a tremendous play ranging deep down the right field line, making a basket catch with her back facing home plate to end the first and leave a runner at third.
In the top of the fourth, the Razorbacks had a chance to score after infielder Hannah Gammill walked and infielder Danielle Gibson singled back to the pitcher.
Both runners advanced a base after a wild pitch, but a flyout to left, which LSU turned into a double play, and a groundout ended the threat.
By keeping the game scoreless, Haff gave the bats a chance to take the lead in the top of the seventh.
Catcher Kayla Green led off the inning with a walk and outfielder Aly Manzo popped up a ball that LSU’s catcher Morgan Cummins had to dive behind the dish to catch, allowing pinch runner Cally Kildow to take second base.
Huffine followed by singling and putting runners on the corners with one out, setting up Jackson’s go-ahead knock.
Haff slammed the door on LSU’s offense in the bottom of the seventh, striking out the side to end the game.
Haff (21-4) was electric and allowed just one Tiger runner to reach third base. She surrendered only four singles and did not allow a free baserunner while striking out four.
The redshirt junior tied the school’s career record with her 73rd victory.
Shelbi Sunseri (7-6) went the distance for LSU, allowing one run on four hits and six walks with three strikeouts.
Huffine’s two hits led the way for the Razorbacks, and the team coaxed six walks to total ten baserunners.
Both outfielder Hannah McEwen and Gammill recorded two walks each. Arkansas won in Baton Rouge for the first time since April 6, 2005.
The Razorbacks play game two of the series against LSU, on Sunday at 5 p.m. on the SEC Network.
Hogs get DT drafted three straight years when Jets take Marshall
Arkansas defensive lineman Jonathan Marshall was selected by the New York Jets in the sixth round of the NFL Draft with the 207th overall pick Saturday afternoon.
He is the first Razorback drafted by the Jets since Nate Garner in 2008.
Marshall becomes just the fourth Razorback to be taken by the Jets all time and extends Arkansas’ streak of at least one player taken in each of the last 26 drafts.
Marshall joins former Razorbacks McTelvin Agim (Denver) and Armon Watts (Minnesota) to give Arkansas three straight drafts with a defensive lineman selected.
Marshall was a key piece to the Arkansas defense in 2020, starting all 10 games on the defensive line and making 35 tackles. His 6.5 tackles for loss were the second-most on the team and his 29 quarterback pressures led the squad.
He made a season-best six tackles at Auburn, including a tackle for loss that started a streak of six straight games with at least one TFL.
Marshall played in 43 games for the Hogs and amassed 70 tackles with 11.5 tackles for loss over his four seasons on the field. He made an immediate impact as a redshirt freshman in 2017 seeing action in all of the Razorbacks’ 12 games then moved into a regular role among the Hogs’ defensive line the next season, amassing over 280 snaps on the d-line and making 14 tackles.
He became a force in the middle of the Razorbacks’ defense making a then career-high 17 tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss in 12 games.
Marshall impressed NFL scouts at Arkansas’ Pro Day in early March producing 36 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press to go along with a 32-inch vertical jump and an unofficial 4.75 in the 40-yard dash.
The final rounds of the NFL Draft conclude on Saturday.
