Catching tandem helping UA make late-season run

By Rick Fires (Contact)

FAYETTEVILLE - Improved pitching isn’t the only reason Arkansas has fought its way back into contention for postseason play.

Catchers Ryan Cisterna and Jeff Nutt have brought stability and flexibility to a position that was left vacated after Brian Walker turned pro following his junior year.

Cisterna will start at catcher tonight and Nutt will likely be in the lineup as the designated hitter when Arkansas begins a three-game series against Alabama at Baum Stadium.

Cisterna seems to be getting hot at just the right time for the Razorbacks. He hit his ninth home run Wednesday in Arkansas’ 14-6 victory over Missouri State, and the Razorbacks could use more production out of the junior as they battle for a spot in the SEC Tournament.

Arkansas starts the weekend tied for third place in the SEC West, a half game behind 1 Alabama and 1 /2 games behind Ole Miss.

Cisterna started the first 29 games at catcher while Nutt recovered from a shoulder injury. The extra workload contributed to Cisterna’s slow start offensively, but he’s hitting better now that Nutt is able to share the duties behind the plate.

Cisterna is tied for second on the team in home runs, while Nutt is hitting .338 with an 11-game hitting streak since returning March 30 against Vanderbilt.

Third-team catcher Thomas Hauskey also has contributed some key hits as a pinch hitter.

“Ryan had to catch a lot of games while Nutt was out and he’s gotten a lot better with some rest,” Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. “He’s done a fine job behind the plate and working with pitchers, and Nutt has given us a good bat in the middle of the lineup since he’s returned.

“It’s a combined effort that’s given us some good depth behind the plate.”

Cisterna said Arkansas’ confidence is high after the Razorbacks beat Ole Miss in a doubleheader last Saturday towin the series. Arkansas won the first game 13-11 in 10 innings after the Rebels erased a seven-run deficit to tie it up in the ninth. The Razorbacks then finished off the Rebels with a 12-4 victory in the second game.

“Winning the doubleheader at Ole Miss gave us a big boost,” said Cisterna, who transferred from Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Arizona. “They came back on us in the first game and it was like, ‘Oh, no,’ but we kept going and kept fighting.

“Once we won that game, we knew it was over.”

Arkansas (27-18, 9-11) has won three consecutive SEC series, while Alabama (26-21, 10-11) has won its past two.

Alabama started poorly in SEC play by getting swept at Kentucky. The Tide has since recovered with consecutive SEC series victories over Mississippi State and Auburn and, like Arkansas, own a series victory over division leader Ole Miss.

“We’re playing better right now, and we know Arkansas is also,” Alabama Coach Jim Wells said. “There’s not a lot of difference between teams 1 through 12 in our league, although Georgia may be ahead of the fray right now. The season is a grind, and we’re just trying to survive.”

Only Mississippi State appearsout of the race for the eight spots in the SEC Tournament, which begins May 21 in Hoover, Ala. Arkansas ends the season at Mississippi State, but the Razorbacks can’t afford to look past consecutive SEC series at home with Alabama and South Carolina.

Arkansas is 18-7 at Baum Stadium this season, which includes SEC series losses to Georgia and Auburn.

“We dug ourselves in a hole early and we’re still trying to dig out,” Cisterna said. “Our only concern is to keep winning games and not to look ahead. If we do that, good things will continue to happen for us.”

Dallas Keuchel will start on the mound for Arkansas tonight, followed by Justin Wells on Saturday and Cliff Springston on Sunday. Springston threw his first complete game of the season last week that enabled Arkansas to clinch the series with Ole Miss.

“Our pitching has gotten better and we’ve gotten some older, experienced guys back from injuries who’ve helped us,” Van Horn said. “We’ve got 10 games left, including nine in conference, and this is the most important time of the year.

“I expect this weekend with Alabama will be a really good series.”

Originally published 04:46 a.m., May 2, 2008
Updated 04:13 a.m., May 3, 2008

Sports, Pages 27 on 05/02/2008