Razorbacks hold first baseball practice Friday

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (Courtesy Arkansas)- The top-ranked Arkansas baseball team held its first practice of the 2013 preseason on Friday afternoon at Baum Stadium.

The team practiced for two hours and 15 minutes working on bunt defense, situational defense and then closing the session with batting practice. The team is scheduled to scrimmage on Saturday and Sunday with each scrimmage beginning at approximately 1 p.m. each day. All Razorback practices and scrimmages are open to the public.

Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn met with the media prior to practice and talked about the team's excitement for getting the 2013 season underway.

"I think the players are really excited about getting practice started," Coach Van Horn said. "We've had some pretty good workouts in skill instruction the last eight or nine days. I feel like the players came back in shape. We have the opportunity to scrimmage this weekend, we'll practice for a few days next week and then scrimmage again next weekend."

Coach Van Horn also discussed the expectations for the team after being ranked in the top three in all of the major national college baseball polls, including being ranked as the preseason No. 1 team in the USA Today Coaches Poll and the Collegiate Baseball poll.

"It's exciting for our team and our program," Coach Van Horn said. "It's an honor. I feel like nationally the program is highly respected. It's just a beginning in baseball. We play a lot of games and it's going to fluctuate. I'd like to hang around the top 10 all year. That means we're having a real good season, we're consistent and have a chance to host a regional."

The Razorbacks open the 2013 season on Friday, Feb. 15, when they host Western Illinois. First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 p.m.