Hobbs steps in as Razorbacks’ pitching sharpens before Arlington

Arkansas baseball finished its offseason scrimmage weekend without its head coach, but it didn’t look leaderless.

Dave Van Horn missed Saturday and Sunday while traveling to Waco, Texas, for his jersey retirement at McLennan College.

That left pitching coach Matt Hobbs running the dugout, managing lineups, and answering questions like the man in charge.

Hobbs never claimed the title. He didn’t need it.

The Razorbacks wrapped up a three-game Cardinal vs. Black scrimmage with pitching setting the tone, young arms flashing upside, and a rotation quietly coming into focus just days before opening weekend at Globe Life Field.

Pitching wasn’t a surprise, just confirmation

The talk before the weekend was that pitching had been dominating behind closed doors inside the Fowler Center. Once the doors opened, the Hogs didn’t change the narrative.

Offense showed power early, but the weekend belonged to arms. Hobbs watched closely, letting innings play out instead of cutting them short. Mistakes stayed visible. Success stayed earned.

That approach fit a pitching coach who prefers information over noise.

Friday showed power, not separation

Game One started loud.

Ryder Helfrick homered to center. Kuhio Aloy followed with a 479-foot blast that might be the longest ever recorded at Baum. Cardinal jumped out early, but Black responded with its own power.

Joey Lorenzini entered and showed an electric fastball from the left side. Steele Eaves later gave up two homers. Errors decided the finish.

Final: Cardinal 7, Black 5.

Hobbs didn’t chase the score. He tracked execution.

Saturday looked like Hobbs’ kind of game

Saturday slowed everything down.

Hunter Dietz and Tate McGuire limited damage, and defense decided the scoring. One error helped Black get on the board. Another misplay created an unearned run.

Then the bullpen took over.

James DeCremer, Mark Brissey, and Ethan McElvain closed the game with four half-innings, two hits allowed, and eight strikeouts combined.

Final: Black 3, Cardinal 1.

That stretch told Hobbs plenty.

Sunday, roles flipped and arms stayed Sharp

With Van Horn still away, Hobbs flipped the teams for Sunday. Starters wore black. Backups wore cardinal.

Peyton Lee struck out five of the first six batters he faced, leaning on a slider that drew empty swings. Colin Fisher countered with efficiency, pitching to contact and keeping the game moving.

Reese Robinett doubled home two runs to break the tie. Fisher stayed scoreless through five. Jordan Martin followed with clean work.

Errors reopened the door late, and Zack Stewart walked it off on a misplayed ball to right.

Final: Red 4, Black 3.

Hobbs let the chaos happen. Scrimmages are meant to reveal flaws.

Right field stayed under microscope

The loudest issue was right field.

Kuhio Aloy committed three errors across three games, two on routine fly balls. Every chance looked uncomfortable.

Hobbs addressed it directly, pointing to limited outfield work in recent weeks because of weather. He didn’t exaggerate or dismiss it.

Aloy likely stays in right to protect the lineup, but improvement will have to come fast.

Freshman arms made strongest statement

The Razorbacks’ freshmen pitchers stole the weekend.

Peyton Lee struck out eight in 3.2 innings and looked untouchable early Sunday. Joey Lorenzini flashed mid-90s velocity from the left side and touched 97. Jordan Martin and Mark Brissey combined for 10 outs without allowing a hit.

Luke Cornelison, a two-way player, took the mound Friday and Sunday.

For Hobbs, that’s depth he can trust.

A rotation hint, delivered softly

Hobbs didn’t announce a rotation after the weekend.

He didn’t need to.

Asked about Colin Fisher starting, Hobbs smiled and said media members were “pretty smart” for figuring that one out.

Arkansas will likely open with Gabe Gaeckle on Friday night against Oklahoma State, followed by Hunter Dietz and Fisher against TCU and Texas Tech.

Hobbs let the smile do the talking.

Exit was clean, test is real

The Hogs came out healthy. Christian Turner stayed in after an ankle scare. Helfrick returned after getting hit in the wrist.

Nolan Souza led off nearly every lineup he appeared in, a quiet signal heading into Arlington.

Dave Van Horn will be back in the dugout next weekend.

But for one scrimmage stretch, Matt Hobbs ran the show, trusted his pitching, and left with answers.