Vinson Highlight Helps Hogs Roll the Tide

This play needs to be credited as one of the best catches in recent college baseball history, if not all-time.

As Alabama’s Brett Booth hammered what was sure to be a 2-run home run during the first inning of the weekend, Arkansas LF Matt Vinson made a play typically reserved for those Japanese spider-ninjas that do this on the regular.  He beats the ball to the fence, climbs up on the padding, and snags the long ball that was a good 3 or 4 feet over the fence.  The ball might as well been Italian boat, because it was Gondola, but Vinson made what will likely be the play of the year in college baseball to bring it back.  It ended up being the SportsCenter #1 play on Friday, and for the entire weekend.  But, it wasn’t just a highlight, it set the tone for the rest of the weekend.  Instead of letting the Tide take a 2-0 lead in the first inning, Vinson kept the Hogs from getting their backs against the wall, by climbing it himself.  The Razorbacks went on to win the game 4-3 in 12 innings, and swept the weekend series over the lowly diamond-Tide.  Not only did the sweep it start Arkansas off on the right foot, it took them to #3 in the country, and propelled their record to a staggering 19-2.  The Hogs don’t have long to dwell on the incredible play, and series sweep.  With big series against Mississippi State and LSU, starting the SEC schedule 3-0 was huge.  Conference wins are hard to come by in the SEC, so it’s of utmost importance that teams win the games they are supposed to.  The Razorbacks have a tune-up series with Nevada this week then they head to Starkville to take on the Bulldogs over the weekend.