Oliver Grigg
AYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 8 Arkansas’ homestand marches on with a three-game series against 2022 NCAA Tournament participant Wright State this weekend at Baum-Walker Stadium.
First pitch between the Razorbacks and Raiders is set for 3 p.m. Friday, March, on SEC Network+. Saturday’s game gets underway at 3 p.m. on SEC Network+, while Sunday’s series finale is scheduled for 1 p.m. on SEC Network+.
Arkansas is off to a 6-2 overall start this season, including last weekend’s home-opening series win against Ohio Valley Conference foe Eastern Illinois. The Hogs have not lost a non-conference home series in the regular season since 2014.
Horizon League foe Wright State (2-5) has made NCAA Tournament appearances in three of the last four postseasons, including back-to-back appearances for the first time in program history in 2021 and 2022. The Raiders are one of an SEC-high 15 opponents featured in the Razorbacks’ 2023 schedule that advanced to the postseason one year ago.
Schedule
Friday, March 3
Wright State vs. #8 Arkansas – 3 p.m. – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats
Saturday, March 4
Wright State vs. #8 Arkansas – 3 p.m. – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats
Sunday, March 5
Wright State vs. #8 Arkansas – 1 p.m. – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats
On the Mound
Friday, March 3
Wright State RHP Jake Shirk (1-1, 5.40 ERA) vs. Arkansas LHP Hagen Smith (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
Saturday, March 4
Wright State LHP Sebastian Gongora (1-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. Arkansas RHP Will McEntire (1-0, 8.10 ERA)
Sunday, March 5
Wright State TBA vs. Arkansas LHP Hunter Hollan (1-0, 2.79 ERA)
Tune In
Josh Haley (play-by-play) and Troy Eklund (analyst) will have the call of this weekend’s three-game series against Wright State on SEC Network+. All three games 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 Nick Badders (play-by-play) and Bubba Carpenter (analyst) on the call. A full list of radio affiliates is available here.
The Tough Get Going
Wright State is Arkansas' fifth opponent this season that advanced to the postseason one year ago. The Hogs' 2023 regular-season schedule features an SEC-most 15 teams that participated in the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
The Razorbacks began their season against three teams in the College Baseball Showdown — Texas, TCU and Oklahoma State — that advanced to last year's NCAA Tournament. Arkansas hosted Illinois State, its fourth 2022 tournament team, on Wednesday at Baum-Walker Stadium.
This season, Arkansas is 3-1 against teams that advanced to last year's NCAA Tournament, including an 18-1 run-rule win over Oklahoma State in Arlington, Texas.
H. Smith
Left-hander Hagen Smith, the Razorbacks’ Friday starter, has had a strong start to his sophomore campaign. Through two games, Smith is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 14 strikeouts over 9 2/3 innings. He has limited opposing hitters to a miniscule .129 batting average, allowing just four total hits and only one extra-base hit on the year.
Smith, who has not allowed a run through his first 9 2/3 innings on the mound this season, has some work to do before he can threaten the program record for consecutive scoreless innings pitched. Razorback right-hander David Walling owns the school record of 29 consecutive scoreless innings pitched, which he accomplished during the 1998 season.