Forsythe shouldering big load
Posted on Saturday, May 10, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE - After Arkansas lost a disheartening game at Oral Roberts on April 15, Coach Dave Van Horn challenged Logan Forsythe.
The Razorbacks' junior third baseman wasn't producing runs as he had throughout his sophomore season, when he racked up 55 RBI. Sounding frustrated after a difficult loss, Van Horn pleaded with Forsythe to stop taking so many pitches and swing the bat.
Message received.
Forsythe has driven in 18 runs the past eight games, doubling the number of RBI he collected before this most torrid of stretches, where he's not only led with his bat but also from the clubhouse and the dugout.
"He's a leader and that's why he's a captain, because he can get out there and get it done when we need it,"freshman Jacob House said. "I can't thank him enough for pulling us through this, this young team."
House will be remembered as the Razorbacks' hero Friday night after smacking a pinchhit grand slam in the bottom of the ninth to stun South Carolina, 12-11.
But credit Forsythe for keeping the Razorbacks afloat in a game they trailed 9-3 and 11-5. He went 4 for 4 with 2 home runs, 3 RBI and 3 runs scored and constantly helped spark mini-rallies that chipped away at the deficit.
"I just wanted to stay focused and give us a chance,"said Forsythe, who after his first-inning home run put the Razorbacks up 2-0 continued hitting the ball with another home run to lead off the sixth inning and get the Razorbacks going again.
He also doubled during a two-run seventh.
"I knew I was going to get a chance to drive some runs in and do some things,"Forsythe said. "Luckily, I did it tonight."
Forsythe is 16 for 34 with 10 runs scored and 6 home runs in his past 8 games. Perhaps most telling - considering Van Horn had pleaded for Forsythe to take more aggressive at-bats - is the fact that he's drawn just three walks in that span, including one Friday.
"I think he finally just said, 'The heck with it. I'm good. I need to play,'"Van Horn said. "Sometimes you just need to get over things and just have fun, and he has been."
Forsythe is expected to sign a professional contract after what figures to be a solid draft position. Despite making what appeared to be a costly throwing error leading to a five-run Gamecocks' fifth inning, Forsythe is one of the slickest fielding third baseman in the draft.
Arkansas' postseason hopes, even with Friday's big victory, remain in jeopardy as the regular season winds down. Forsythe wants what looks like his last college year to be extended a little longer.
"It's now or never, and we've got a mind-set of we don't have anything to lose,"he said. "We did it tonight. We plugged away, gave ourselves a chance. Things went our way tonight."
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