#3 Arkansas Hosts Kentucky on SEC Opening Weekend
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – SEC Opening Weekend is here.
No. 3 Arkansas, winners of eight straight, hosts Kentucky for three games at Baum-Walker Stadium this weekend in the first conference series of the season. First pitch in the opener between the Hogs and Wildcats is set for 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 18, on SEC Network+.
Saturday’s game is also under the lights, getting underway at 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network+. The series finale begins at noon Sunday on SEC Network+.
Arkansas has won 10 straight SEC weekend series dating back to last season as well as eight consecutive SEC weekend series at home. Last year, the Razorbacks became only the second team since the SEC expanded to 30 games to win all 10 conference series en route to their first outright conference title since 1999.
Schedule
6:30 p.m. Friday, March 18
vs. Kentucky – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats
6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 19
vs. Kentucky – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats
Noon Sunday, March 20
vs. Kentucky – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats
Tune In
Arkansas’ entire SEC Opening Weekend series against Kentucky will stream on SEC Network+ with Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Troy Eklund (analyst) on the call. 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 series can also be heard on the Razorback Sports Network from Learfield/IMG, including locally in Fayetteville on 92.1 FM. Nick Badders (play-by-play) has the call with Bubba Carpenter (analyst) in Friday’s series opener. A full list of radio affiliates is available here.
Matchups
Game 1
Kentucky RHP Cole Stupp (2-0, 7.71 ERA) vs. Arkansas RHP Connor Noland (2-1, 3.52 ERA)
Game 2
Kentucky LHP Magdiel Cotto (1-0, 7.24 ERA) vs. Arkansas LHP Hagen Smith (3-1, 2.66 ERA)
Game 3
Kentucky TBA vs. Arkansas RHP Jaxon Wiggins (2-0, 4.35 ERA)
Series History
Arkansas owns a commanding 44-26 all-time series lead against SEC East foe Kentucky, having won the last five series since 2013 and 16 of the last 22 series since 1992. The Hogs are 26-13 against the Wildcats in the Dave Van Horn era, including 13-5 in games played at home.
The Razorbacks swept the Wildcats when the two programs last met at Baum-Walker Stadium during the 2018 season. Arkansas has won five of the last six series in Fayetteville, Ark. since 2004.
Leading Off
- Arkansas has won its last four SEC opening series with sweeps from 2017-19, going 11-1 in that span.
- This is the fifth consecutive year that the Razorbacks have opened league play at home.
- Arkansas is 613-227 (.730) all-time at Baum-Walker Stadium, including 481-164 (.746) in 20 seasons under head coach Dave Van Horn.
- Infielder Peyton Stovall has torn the cover off the ball over his last six games, slashing .565/.615/.652 (13-for-23) with seven runs scored, two doubles and four runs batted in. The true freshman was tabbed the Preseason SEC Freshman of the Year by both D1Baseball and Baseball America.
- Outfielder Chris Lanzilli rides a team-leading 10-game hitting streak into Friday’s series opener. The Wake Forest transfer is hitting a team-best .375 with two home runs and 14 RBI on the year.
- Pitcher Connor Noland will make his first start in SEC play since the 2019 season when he toes the rubber against Kentucky on Friday night. The right-hander owns a 2-1 record with a 3.52 ERA through his first four starts of the year.
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