CWS Rewind: 2004
For the first time in 15 years, the Arkansas Razorback baseball team returned to Omaha and the College World Series, this time with a new head coach in tow.
In just his second season as head coach of his alma mater, Dave Van Horn led the Razorbacks to the promised land, the third time he had done so in his career as a head coach (twice at Nebraska), kicking off the first of six CWS berths during his time at Arkansas. In 2020, he sits as the active career leading in College World Series appearances.
Arkansas’ 2004 season was one for the history books as the Razorbacks won 45 games, shared the SEC regular-season title, hosted NCAA Regional and Super Regional games and made its fifth appearance at the College World Series. The following all came true despite the Razorbacks getting picked to finish last in the SEC’s Western Division by the league coaches.
Along the way, Arkansas won 19 SEC games, swept a weekend series in Baton Rouge, Louisiana against No. 2 LSU and dispatched a tough Florida State team in the Super Regional in two games. The Razorback sweep of LSU was the first time since 1988 that the Tigers had been swept at home by a conference opponent.
Picked last in the division to begin the season, Van Horn guided this gritty bunch of Razorbacks to their second league title since joining the SEC. As the No. 1 overall seed after a conference record of 19-11, the Diamond Hogs lost to Tennessee, 8-6, in 13 innings. The Volunteers hit a three-run double in the 12th inning, but the Hogs returned with four-straight singles to keep the game going, however, Tennessee would get two more across and hold on for the win. Arkansas then defeated Ole Miss and Tennessee by scores of 4-3 and 4-1, respectively, before losing to the eventually tournament champion South Carolina, 3-2.
For their efforts, Arkansas earned a coveted national seed in the NCAA Tournament draw and hosted its second regional in school history. The Razorbacks hosted, at the time, the largest attended NCAA Regional as 38,773 fans packed Baum Stadium for the three-day event. Arkansas didn’t disappoint, although it took a historic comeback to send the home crowd away happy.
Down to its last out in an elimination game against Wichita State, Arkansas got a grand slam from junior catcher Brady Toops to complete an improbable 11-9 comeback win against Wichita State. Arkansas held off the Shockers, 4-3, in the regional final to secure the school’s first-ever NCAA Super Regional. The following weekend, Arkansas dominated No. 12 Florida State in a two-game sweep of the Seminoles televised nationally by ESPN. Razorback fans set a new NCAA record for super regional attendance at an on-campus venue drawing 9,338 on Friday and 10,027 on Saturday. With the 4-2 win in game two, Arkansas clinched its fifth College World Series berth in school history.
Entering the CWS as the No. 8 seed, the Hogs would face foe Texas and Arizona at Rosenblatt Stadium, falling by scores of 13-2 and 7-2, respectively, to end their season at 45-24.
The Razorback accomplishments led to a top 10 finish in all four major collegiate baseball polls, including a No. 6 ranking by Baseball America.
