The Razorbacks will try to avoid the same fate as a couple of its conference mates when they host Arkansas vs Arkansas State on Tuesday.
By the time they get underway at 6 p.m. CT, two ranked SEC teams will have already lost midweek games to lower-level Division I opponents, so the Red Wolves – despite their No. 222 ranking in the RPI – should not be taken lightly.
Fresh off getting swept at Baum-Walker Stadium, No. 18 LSU returned home and lost to Southern 12-7 on Monday. Earlier in the day Tuesday, Central Arkansas played No. 23 Mississippi State and will head back to the Natural State with a 7-6 win.
Those are just two of the latest examples of the weird results midweek games sometimes yield in college baseball. That’s also why midweek games aren’t really a big deal when it comes to rankings.
Even if Arkansas State manages to pull off the upset Tuesday, Arkansas would likely retain its No. 1 ranking if it takes care of business with two of three wins over Ole Miss this weekend.
Don’t believe us? Just look at Florida. The Gators have lost five midweek games, including to Stetson and Jacksonville, and are just 16-11 overall, but they’ve won two of three against Texas A&M, LSU and Mississippi State to start SEC play and are No. 6 in this week’s D1Baseball poll. (Heck, when Florida won the national title in 2017, it lost four midweek games.)
On paper, the Razorbacks shouldn’t have any problems with Arkansas State, but if they do, it’s not something to panic about. It may mean a lot in Jonesboro, but it would be insignificant on the national scale.
Follow along below for updates and highlights from the game…
(READ NEXT: Check out our breakdown of the Jared Sprague-Lott/Peyton Holt dilemma)
LIVE UPDATES – Arkansas vs Arkansas State
Pregame Tidbits
After not pitching this past weekend against LSU, freshman left-hander Colin Fisher is getting the starting nod against Arkansas State. He is 4-1 with a 2.50 ERA, 20 strikeouts and only three walks in 18 innings across seven appearances this season, which includes four starts.
Offensively, Peyton Holt is getting the start at third base, Ryder Helfrick is behind the dish at catcher and both Ross Lovich (left field) and Will Edmunson (center field) are in the lineup.
The Red Wolves are starting right-hander Kole Turner, a Canadian who previously went to Three Rivers C.C. This will be his fourth straight midweek start and he has a 5.19 ERA with 17 strikeouts and 13 walks in 17 1/3 total innings across eight appearances. Opponents are hitting just .197 against him, so command seems to be his struggle, as he’s also plunked five batters.
B-1st: Arkansas 2, Arkansas State 0
The Razorbacks loaded the bases with no outs in the home half of the first, but it wasn’t until they were down to their final out that they cashed in.
Peyton Holt hit a slow roller to short and reached on an infield single, resulting in an RBI, and Arkansas got another run out of it when the shortstop’s throw sailed over first base for an error.
B-2nd: Arkansas 4, Arkansas State 0
Ben McLaughlin doubled the Razorbacks’ lead with one swing of the bat, launching an opposite-field two-run home run. It traveled 396 feet.
B-3rd: Arkansas 13, Arkansas State 0
If there were any lingering concerns that Arkansas might get upset, it erased them with a monster nine-run inning in which it sent 12 players to the plate and recorded six hits.
A grand slam by Nolan Souza – a ball he absolutely crushed – capped the big inning. He hit it 111 mph off the bat and it traveled 458 feet.
FINAL – Arkansas 13, Arkansas State 0 (7 inn.)
Starting Lineups
Arkansas State Baseball | Arkansas Baseball |
---|---|
1. Allen Grier – LF | 1. Peyton Stovall – 2B |
2. Blake Burris – CF | 2. Ben McLaughlin – 1B |
3. Cason Tollett – DH | 3. Wehiwa Aloy – SS |
4. Brandon Hager – 1B | 4. Kendall Diggs – RF |
5. Brayden Caskey – 2B | 5. Nolan Souza – DH |
6. Austen Jaslove – RF | 6. Peyton Holt – 3B |
7. Daedrick Cail – 3B | 7. Ross Lovich – LF |
8. Hunter Ryan – C | 8. Ryder Helfrick – C |
9. Cason Campbell – SS | 9. Will Edmunson – CF |
Pitching: RHP Kole Turner | Pitching: LHP Colin Fisher |
How to Watch Arkansas vs Arkansas State
Date: Tuesday, April 2
Location: Baum-Walker Stadium (Fayetteville, Ark.)
First Pitch: 6 p.m. CT
TV/Stream: SEC Network-Plus
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