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BASEBALL: Razorbacks Starter Gets No Help

Last updated Saturday, March 15, 2008 8:33 PM CDT
in Razorback Central

By Jerry L. Reed
The Morning News

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FAYETTEVILLE - Dallas Keuchel couldn't help him. Neither could Travis Hill.

Arkansas starter Shaun Seibert needed some help to win his second game of the season and second one since recovering from Tommy John surgery last year.

Instead, he got nothing on a bitter-cold Saturday afternoon during a 15-11 loss against Georgia in Baum Stadium.

Everything seemed under control when Seibert left the mound in the sixth inning with a 10-2 lead, though he was responsible for Georgia runners at second and third.

Then the roof caved in.

"My arm felt great, felt I was locating my fastball pretty good, until the top of the sixth," Seibert said. "Then, I got tired. Kind of got underneath the ball and couldn't locate my fastball. That's what happens when you can't locate your fastball, you end up getting out of the game.

"Obviously, any loss is disappointing. We made some good pitches, some bad pitches. They just took advantage of our mistakes."

In retrospect, Seibert had a decent outing. He worked five full innings, scattered seven hits, gave up four runs - two were earned - and struck out four while throwing a season-high 78 pitches.

However, his bullpen buddies couldn't stop the bleeding once Georgia started rallying for the improbable comeback.

Keuchel and Hill each allowed four runs. Hill (1-1) took the loss.

"In the SEC, I mean, really with metal bats, no lead is really safe," Seibert said. "If you're up 20 to nothing, 10 to nothing, you're got to bear down because they can make a comeback.

"Obviously, I'm not happy right now because no loss is ever satisfying. I thought I did pretty well. I just made some mistakes and they hit 'em.

"That happens sometimes."

Razorbacks catcher Ryan Cisterna said Seibert deserved better.

"Oh, I thought he threw great," Cisterna said. "His fastball was live, he was locating his spots, he looked sharp, throwing strikes, staying in the zone.

"His performances have gotten better and better. It was fun to watch. It was too bad we couldn't get that one for him.

"I kind of figured it was going to be a good day for him."

And it would have been, if he'd gotten some help.




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