FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas first baseman Dominic Ficociello doesn’t need anyone to remind him of his hitting slump.
He’s well aware of the recent struggles.
“It’s been tough,” Ficociello admitted Tuesday.
The sophomore is trying to work his way out of it, though, as Arkansas (42-19) prepares to play No. 4 national seed Baylor (48-15) in a best-of-three NCAA Super Regional which begins at Baylor Ballpark on Saturday afternoon. And part of his plan sounds simple: don’t spend too much time analyzing the issues.
“I go into every game confident,” Ficociello said. “I go up to every at-bat not thinking about my struggles.”
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Ficociello and the Razorbacks hope the approach works this weekend, when the Razorbacks try to advance to the College World Series for the second time in the past four seasons.
There’s no doubt a lineup which has had its struggles most of the year needs his production. Ficociello is second on the team in home runs (6) and RBIs (37). He has been one of Arkansas’ top hitters since arriving in 2011. So, while .300 isn’t bad in baseball terms, the Razorbacks know he’s capable of much more.
“He’s been struggling for a while,” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said of Ficociello, who hit .335 as a freshman last season. “I mean, he’s hitting .300 straight up. … He’s just pressing, trying to do too much. Going out of the zone. All the things you can’t do when it’s not going good.
“You have to be more patient, you have to let the ball get deep. You have to really focus in on the strike zone.”
Ficociello’s batting average has reached its lowest point since the season-opening series against Villanova, when he hit .273 in three games. He was cruising along at .351 after the series at Ole Miss in early April, but has slumped since.
Ficociello is hitting .203 (16 of 79) with eight RBIs over the 21-game stretch. He has just three multi-hit games in that time.
Even worse, Ficociello is 2-for-17 (.118) with zero RBIs in Arkansas’ five postseason games (the Southeastern Conference Tournament and Houston Regional).
“I think I’ve been trying to do too much and that’s not my place,” Ficociello said. “I don’t need to go up to the plate and try and hit a home run every time or hit the ball in the gap every time. I just need to go up there, slow down the game, and tell myself, just get on base. Whether it be a walk, leaning into a pitch and getting hit or dropping down a bunt.
“It’s those small things that will turn the page and get you going in the right direction.”
The mental aspect is one part of ending the slump. Ficociello also has devoted plenty of time to the batting cages.
The California native said he had an extended practice session with hitting coach Todd Butler and volunteer assistant Brian Walker on Tuesday. Some minor changes were made to his swing and approach, which made Ficociello feel “extremely good.”
“I think if I can take what I was doing and carry it over to the game, I’ll get back on the right track,” Ficociello said.
That would be great news for an Arkansas team that scored 11 runs (seven earned) during three games in the Houston Regional.
Pitching carried the Razorbacks to three wins last week in Houston, but Arkansas knows the bats must produce more against Baylor. The Bears are hitting .312 entering the Super Regional.
“It’s going to be a huge part, because they’re a very offensive team,” Arkansas third baseman Matt Reynolds said of the offense. “From what I’ve heard Baylor is a hitter’s park.”
Maybe it’s a good omen for Ficociello, who wants to snap out of his slump and help Arkansas reach the College World Series.
“Hey, maybe this is his weekend, you know?” Van Horn said Tuesday. “That’s the beauty of baseball. You can turn it around with one swing and you’re feeling good and the next at-bat you hit a home run and you go 10-for-12. You just never know.”
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Waco Super Regional
Saturday
Arkansas (42-18) vs. Baylor (48-15), 4 p.m., ESPNU
Sunday
Arkansas vs. Baylor, 3 p.m., ESPNU
Monday (if necessary)
Arkansas vs. Baylor, 3 p.m., ESPN2