Oliver Grigg
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 8 Arkansas opens the month of March against Illinois State (4-3) in a midweek matchup at Baum-Walker Stadium. First pitch between the Hogs and Redbirds is set for 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, on SEC Network+.
Arkansas is off to a 5-2 overall start following last weekend’s home-opening series win over Ohio Valley Conference foe Eastern Illinois. The Razorbacks have not lost a non-conference home series in the regular season the 2014.
Under head coach Dave Van Horn, Arkansas is 4-3 against Illinois State, including series wins in 2007 and 2022. The Hogs, who are 7-3 all-time against the Missouri Valley Conference opponent, lost last year’s season opener to the Redbirds before winning the final two games to secure the series win.
Schedule
Wednesday, March 1
Illinois State vs. #9 Arkansas – 3 p.m. – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats
On the Mound
Wednesday, March 1
Illinois State RHP Thomas Harper (0-0, 3.60 ERA) vs. Arkansas LHP Zack Morris (0-1, 13.50 ERA)
Razorback left-hander Zack Morris will make his third career start on the mound in Wednesday's meeting with the Redbirds. The Cabot, Ark., native, who boasts a 7-2 record with a 3.98 ERA in 61 innings for his career, is 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA over 5 1/3 innings to begin the 2023 campaign.
Tune In
Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Troy Eklund (analyst) will have the call of tomorrow's midweek matchup against Illinois State on SEC Network+. Fans can catch all the action through the ESPN app on smartphones, computers and tablets or via Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.
The game can also be heard on the Razorback Sports Network from Learfield, including locally in Fayetteville on 92.1 FM or through the Razorback app, with Chuck Barrett (play-by-play) and former Razorback Bubba Carpenter (analyst) on the call. A full list of radio affiliates is available here.
In the Polls
Two weeks into the season, Arkansas is a consensus top-10 team in the national polls:
Perfect Game – No. 3
NCBWA – No. 7
Collegiate Baseball – No. 8
D1Baseball – No. 8
USA Today Coaches – No. 8
Baseball America – No. 9
Home Sweet Home
Wednesday’s midweek matchup with Illinois State marks the fifth game of an 18-game homestand, the Hogs' longest since 1982. In 1982, Arkansas played 22 straight games at George Cole Field to begin the year and finished the campaign with a 40-15-2 overall record.
Slavens Strong
Razorback infielder Brady Slavens has done nothing but hit since his collegiate career began. Entering Wednesday, he ranks ninth among all SEC hitters in career hits (164) and is fifth in home runs (31).
His 150 career RBI are the most among all SEC hitters. Nationally, Slavens’ 150 career RBI are tied for fourth most among all active Division I hitters.
J Bo Knows
Arkansas outfielder Jace Bohrofen powered the Razorback offense to a 3-1 record last week, including a series win against Eastern Illinois.
Bohrofen slashed a team-leading .545/.647/1.091 with four extra-base hits, including three doubles and a homer, and a team-high five RBI as well as four walks and two stolen bases. The Westmoore, Okla., native had at least one hit in all four games played, including a season-high three base knocks with a season-best two RBI in the Hogs’ series-clinching win against EIU on Saturday.
Bohrofen swatted his first home run of the season in Sunday’s series finale against the Panthers, launching a solo shot over the J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Baseball Development Center in right field.