Fans sick after pitching gamble doesn't pay off in Arkansas' loss to LSU

Although Dave Van Horn is unquestionably one of the best baseball coaches in NCAA history, the 2025 season has exposed a tragic flaw in his coaching: He leaves pitchers on the mound too long when they are obviously struggling. This proved true again in Game 1 in Baton Rouge between the No. 7 Arkansas Razorbacks (40-10, 17-8 SEC) and No. 3 LSU Tigers (39-11, 16-9 SEC).

Zach Root pitched six excellent innings for the Arkansas Razorbacks. In those six innings, he surrendered only two runs and five hits and recorded six strikeouts. Unfortunately for the Hogs, Aiden Jimenez entered in the seventh inning and struggled. Instead of rescuing him with the best and deepest bullpen in the nation, Arkansas head baseball coach Dave Van Horn decided, as he often does, to leave Jimenez in the game to continue to struggle, denying that deep and talented bullpen a timely chance to support him.

While one can understand a head coach's desire to get the most from each pitcher who takes the mound, it's not a wise decision for a coach to let a pitcher who is obviously experiencing trouble to remain in the game. When a pitcher shows clear signs of struggle, he has given his best for that game and needs immediate relief, especially when he has such gifted arms in the bullpen as are in the Hogs'.

Although pitching by committee is not a conventional strategy to employ for an extended period of a season, when a team has as many talented pitchers in the bullpen as Arkansas does, then using such a strategy is a shrewd move to cause opposing teams to face as many of one's best players as possible.

After Root's six quality innings, he left with a 3-2 lead, which grew to 4-2 in the seventh. Unfortunately, Van Horn left a struggling Jimenez in the game, squandering the lead, as the LSU Tigers tied the game 4-4, which paved the way for the Tigers' 5-4 10th-inning victory.

If Van Horn doesn't discontinue to practice, the Hogs can forget any realistic chance of making it to Omaha and winning the 2025 College World Series. While the No. 7 Arkansas Razorbacks played well against the No. 3 LSU Tigers, and should have won the game, pitching strategy proved unfavorable for the Hogs, leading to 5-4 loss in 10 innings and a disappointed Razorback Nation.

Arkansas Razorbacks baseball vs. LSU Tigers: Game 1 Social Media Reactions

Hogtrough, an Arkansas Razorbacks fan, also contends that Dave Van Horn's pitching strategy is deeply problematic.

Dr. Antono Daniels, an Arkansas Razorbacks beat writer at FanSided's Razorbackers, shared essentially the same sentiments about Dave Van Horn as Hogtrough.

RazorbackHobbs succinctly expressed his disappointment: "Whatever man."

Hogs Sports Fan stated, "Choked again."

DVH Burner wrote, "That's on DVH."

John, however, offered a more hopeful response about how he expects the Hogs to perform the rest of this series.

Kaleb, a Razorback fan, predicted that Arkansas will win the series.

MadMemaw, an Arkansas Razorbacks fan, said, "Today's a new day. Win the remaining two games and come back to God's country."

Rabid Razorback Fans praised Zach Root and Kuhio Aloy.

Dennis Meadors, a Razorback fan, was not pleased with Arkansas's defense at a critical point in the game.

MaryEllen Brown, an Arkansas Razorbacks fan, made a statement most of Razorback Nation can love: "I hate LSU so much, and that has nothing to do with the score."