Arkansas went into this past weekend with high hopes. A chance at first place in the SEC Western Division. Record crowds. The purple and gold of LSU in town. Unfortunately for the Razorbacks, newly-minted today at No. 17 by Baseball America, the weather wreaked havoc and they ended up dropping two of three.

What a frustrating weekend for the Hogs and coach Dave Van Horn. It didn’t start all bad — once the games finally started at 5:02 p.m. Saturday. Dallas Keuchel gave up a first-inning, two-run bomb to summer teammate Blake Dean. But the 6-3 junior lefty shut down the now-No. 3 Tigers for most of the next 7.1 innings.

Meanwhile, the Razorbacks torched LSU for 10 runs between the fourth to eighth frames. Ben Tschepikow had three hits, Scott Lyons had two, Brett Eibner knocked in three and Andy Wilkins went deep for the first of his two weekend homers. Arkansas won 11-4 and moved into position to win the series.

Louis Coleman, with his quirky, three-quarter delivery, halted those thoughts.

Coleman absolutely humbled the Razorbacks in Saturday’s second game. The 6-4 sophomore righty went the distance for his first career shutout, allowing only one walk and two hits. Coleman struck out six during the quick, 2 hour and 25 minute contest won 5-0 by LSU.

Only Zack Cox and Jacob House managed singles off Coleman. And Arkansas’ T.J. Forrest didn’t fare too well in his pitching return after resting last weekend.

The Razorbacks still had a chance to win the series Sunday in the mist in Fayetteville.

But LSU grabbed an early 4-0 lead against Eibner and Mike Bolsinger and held it, surviving homers by Cox (solo) and Wilkins (two-run). Chad Jones and Matty Ott combined to allow only one hit and strike out four in the final three innings, and the Tigers won 4-3.

Arkansas left 10 runners on base in the series finale, irking Van Horn and dropping them into a tie for third place in the Western Division with Alabama. Check out the league standings here. The Razorbacks will concentrate on finals the next few days and then travel to face the 21st-ranked Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa.

Top Performers Against LSU

1. Zack Cox, 3B/DH/P/who knows what else? — Cox went 4-for-10 against the Tigers with three runs and three RBI, extending his career-high hitting streak to nine games. The 6-foot, 215-pound freshman has raised his average 59 points to .295 and has hit .455 with four doubles, three homers and nine RBI during the streak.

2. Dallas Keuchel, P — The Razorbacks have found a steady, reliant Friday night option in Keuchel. He matched his career-high with 8.1 innings in Saturday’s first game and has now won six of his last eight starts.

3. Ben Tschepikow, 2B — The Fayetteville native had three hits in Saturday’s first game and two more in Sunday’s contest. He reached base half of the time against LSU (7-for-14).

Honorable mention — Mike Bolsinger, P (4.1 innings, 0 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 4 SO on Sunday); Andy Wilkins, 1B (2-for-10, 2 HR); Scott Lyons, SS (5-for-13, 2 R); Brett Eibner, P/OF (2-for-9, 3 RBI in Saturday’s first game)