Baseball
Razorback players, coaches vow resilience after 4-1 loss to LSU in Omaha
Arkansas’s 4-1 loss to LSU leaves players and coaches determined, with Van Horn and Robinett vowing to fight on in Omaha
OMAHA, Neb. — The Arkansas Razorbacks’ hopes for a College World Series title took a blow Saturday night, falling 4-1 to LSU in front of more than 25,000 fans at Charles Schwab Field Omaha.
The loss drops Arkansas into the losers bracket, but coaches and players made it clear after the game that their journey isn’t over yet.
“We’re not done,” Razorbacks coach Dave Van Horn said in the postgame press conference. “I’ve seen these guys bounce back all year. We’ve got another shot, and that’s all you can ask for in this tournament.”
The Razorbacks (48-14) now face Murray State in a do-or-die elimination game on Monday. With four straight wins required to keep championship hopes alive, the Hogs know the challenge ahead.
“We know what’s at stake,” Van Horn said. “This is Omaha. You get punched, you have to punch back. I trust this group to do that.”
After being held to just three hits through seven innings by LSU’s Kade Anderson, the Arkansas dugout never lost belief.
Arkansas Razorbacks first baseman Reese Robinett trots home after a homer against the LSU Tigers in the College World Series. | Arkansas Communications
“Their guy was good,” said sophomore first baseman Reese Robinett, who provided the Razorbacks’ only run with a leadoff homer in the sixth. “But we’ve come back from worse. I told the team, ‘Let’s keep fighting, keep chipping away.’ It’s not over. We still believe.”
Robinett’s solo shot, his fourth of the season, briefly narrowed the deficit to 3-1.
“I was just trying to spark something,” he said. “I got a fastball up and put a good swing on it. The dugout got loud, and I thought we were about to make a run.”
But LSU responded in the eighth, tacking on a run after a misplayed ball in right field. Arkansas reliever Gabe Gaeckle, who struck out 10 and kept the Hogs in the game, took responsibility but stayed optimistic.
“I wanted to give us a chance,” Gaeckle said. “Sometimes the ball doesn’t bounce your way. But we’re not hanging our heads. We’ll be ready Monday.”
Arkansas Razorbacks reliever Gabe Gaeckle delivers a pitch against the LSU Tigers at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. | Arkansas Sports Communications
Van Horn praised his bullpen’s effort.
“Gabe was outstanding,” Van Horn said. “That’s what you have to do in Omaha – find guys who step up and give you a chance.”
The Razorbacks had plenty of chances, putting leadoff runners on in the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, and ninth innings. But timely double plays and LSU’s pitching stymied every rally.
“We put ourselves in spots to score,” Van Horn said. “We just needed that one big hit, and it didn’t come tonight. But I’ll take my chances with these guys any day.”
Shortstop Charles Davalan, who led off the ninth with a single, echoed the team’s resolve.
“It’s tough, but this team has grit,” Davalan said. “We know what Omaha means to Arkansas. We owe it to each other to keep fighting.”
LSU coach Jay Johnson acknowledged Arkansas’s fight.
“That’s a great program over there,” Johnson said. “You never feel comfortable against them, no matter the score.”
For Van Horn, the game was a reminder of Omaha’s unforgiving nature.
“You can’t give away outs, and you have to capitalize when you get men on base. But Monday’s a new day. We’ve been here before, and we know what it takes.”
The Razorbacks, making their twelfth appearance at the College World Series and eighth under Van Horn, remain focused on the path ahead.
“We didn’t come all this way to go home early,” Robinett said. “We’ll show up ready to play, just like we have all year.”
First pitch for Arkansas vs. Murray State is set for 1 p.m. Monday.
“We’re not packing our bags,” Van Horn promised. “We’re coming out swinging.”
