Mental break

Arkansas’ outfielders and top-of-the-lineup hitters Tavian Josenberger, Jace Bohrofen and Jared Wegner have been slumping.

Josenberger is 4 for 30 in nine games since returning from a hamstring injury. Wegner is 2 for 22 in six games since returning from a broken thumb. Bohrofen is 3 for 38 in the last nine games.

“I think it’s always healthy to get a couple days off, especially from baseball,” Bohrofen said. “Kind of get your mind away from it and just relax.

“These days at home have been really helpful to me. Being able to get in the facility, getting my swings, building a routine. And just getting my mind ready mentally for this weekend.

“We know we can all do it. We’ve had success this season. You’ve just go to look upon that success and build off of that. I’m confident in myself that I’ll have a good weekend. I know those guys will as well.”

Speaking after last Saturday’s 5-4 loss to Texas A&M at the SEC Tournament, Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said he felt good about the team, “except we’ve got to get our offense going. It’s the older guys. They’ve got to do it. If we don’t get the offense going, it’ll be a quick weekend for us.”

Van Horn said that trio has looked better in batting practice this week.

He talked specifically about the team captain Bohrofen’s recent play.

“You know we’ve talked,” he said. “He’s got to relax a little bit. There’s always outside things. You’re talking about guys that are eligible for the draft and there’s all this chit-chat and worry and things that drives coaches crazy.

“And I think we’ve got these guys to ‘Hey, just stay within that locker room and you’ll be fine.’ They’ve had good weeks. Hopefully it’ll come out in the games against live pitching. You never know.”