Georgia Bulldogs scratched and clawed series away from Arkansas

The No. 1 Arkansas Razorbacks (32-5; 12-3 SEC) had two of their worst games of the season on Saturday and Sunday, which allowed the No. 7 Georgia Bulldogs (32-6; 10-5 SEC) to stun them at Foley Field in Athens. In the 12th inning, Henry Hunter hit a walk-off solo homer to give the Bulldogs a 7-6, the same winning score they had in the second game of the weekend series on Saturday.

Even though the second and third games of this series were two of the Hogs' worst games of the season, the seventh-ranked team in the nation could barely beat them. Again, the Razorbacks lost both games 7-6. The present writer posits that Arkansas should remain the top team in the nation. However, those making the rankings will not engage in the honest and sophisticated analysis necessary to keep the Razorbacks as the top team in the country.

Georgia had to play some of its best baseball to defeat Arkansas, which played some of its worst baseball. Even though Arkansas lost two of its three games against the Bulldogs, how Arkansas performed in that one win and those two losses should be enough to permit it to remain the top-ranked team in the country.

Dave Van Horn, Arkansas baseball head coach, can learn something from this series against Georgia that can significantly change how the Hogs perform the remainder of the season: commit to pitching by committee. For example, as ESPN shared, Landon Beidelschies, the starting pitcher, surrendered four runs in five innings. When he started to experience trouble, Van Horn could have taken him out immediately and handed the game to his excellent bullpen.

Arkansas arguably has the best and deepest bullpen in the nation. Van Horn must recognize that going to the bullpen allows him to put some of the best pitchers in the country on the field, giving the Hogs an authentic competitive edge.

Although the No. 1 Arkansas Razorbacks lost an exciting weekend series in Athens, especially the last two games, to the No. 7 Georgia Bulldogs, Razorback Nation shared generally positive sentiments on social media.

Arkansas baseball vs. Georgia: Game 3 Social Media Reactions

Hogtrough, an Arkansas Razorbacks fan, expressed frustration with the Hogs for not capitalizing on "opportunitieds" against Georgia.

Matt Jones, a Razorback beat writer at Whole Hog Sports, contended that "Arkansas is a tough team to put away."

John Nabors, Owner of Inside Arkansas, stated, "Too many mistakes, but mistakes that are perfectly fixable."

Arkansas Baseball Player Development celebrated Ryder Helfrick's third homer of the series and eighth of the season.

Andrew Hutchinson, Managing Editor at Best of Arkansas Sports, noted, "Four of Arkansas' five losses this season have been by one run."

Dave Van Horn said, "We didn't play good at all today...win or lose, I was going to tell the team I felt that way."

Steve Sullivan, an Arkansas KATV sportscaster, praised the Razorbacks' bullpen.

RazorbackHobbs asserted that no one should be panicking about the Razorbacks at this point in the season.

Kevin, a Razorback fan, wrote, "Nate Thompson will be the cause again this year. Georgia committed 5 errors. Had plenty base runners on base. Team not being able to hit with runners on base will cost this team again." Unfortunately, Kevin's comments do not consider the facts about Nate Thompson's record.

Carmen Michelle, the mother of Dylan Carter, an Arkansas relief pitcher, said, "So proud of you bud!!"