Copy by Macy Duvall

Photos by Avery Hrabal

While some spent Valentine’s Day with chocolates and roses, Razorback fans showed their love in a different way – by packing in at Baum Walker for the baseball season opener. Junior Randi Mendolia said, “Baseball on Valentine’s Day really cured my heart, because this is always a tough holiday for singles.” The Razorbacks faced the Washington State Cougars in a four-game series, winning all four games (3-2, 14-2, 5-2, 12-2). Two of these games ended in the seventh inning due to the mercy rule. The Southeastern Conference has a 10-run rule, meaning if a team leads by 10 or more runs, then the game is cut short after the seventh inning. Unpredictable weather did throw a slight curveball to the original game schedule. The teams were set to play one game per day, Friday through Monday. However, Saturday’s game was moved to a double header on Friday, doubling the pressure. Mendolia said that baseball is her favorite time of the year, which is what helped lead her to her choice of study. “My mom has always told me I went to my first baseball tournament when I was two weeks old,” Mendolia said. “I feel like baseball is in my blood. The game can be long and slow at times, but I always find myself back at the ballpark. It’s how I found photography, which is what I will be pursuing my career in.” While fans enjoyed the action, student media employees worked hard to make it all happen. Jack Roach, a student employee behind the scenes, spent Valentine’s Day ensuring a smooth gameday experience. Roach works for the Razorback Sports Network and was assigned to run the main replay camera during the game. “I didn’t have to follow every routine play, but I got to go after the highlight plays and the really exciting stuff,” Roach said. “It’s one of the tougher cameras to run, but also one of the more rewarding because when you get a really good shot you know you did your job well.” Roach, speaking based on the crowd’s reaction, said one of the most memorable plays was a walk off sac fly by third baseman Brent Iredale (10) in the 10th inning. “The crowd was full of life for every game and was a big boost for the team,” Roach said. “The Razorback baseball fans have been the driving force behind this team for forever.”