Arkansas Welcomes Charlotte For Single Midweek Game
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – With a new Top-10 ranking to its name entering the fourth week of the 2019 season, the 10th-ranked Arkansas Baseball team will face the Charlotte 49ers on Wednesday in the only game of what was supposed to be a two-game midweek series. First pitch between the Hogs and 49ers is set for 3 p.m. at Baum-Walker Stadium.
Due to forecasted low temperatures and wind chills that were expected in the 20s, the Razorbacks and 49ers agreed to only play one game on Wednesday, cancelling the scheduled Tuesday game. It’s the second-straight year the midweek series between the two clubs was shortened due to winter weather.
The Razorbacks (9-1) are coming off a perfect 4-0 week with a win over Memphis and a series sweep over Stony Brook. Dating back to last year, Arkansas has won 22 of its last 23 home games and is 7-0 this year.
Charlotte (6-5), led by 27-year head coach Loren Hibbs, is coming off a series win over Kent State that completed a eight-game homestand. Charlotte has had to battle weather in each of the first three weekends this year. Last week, the Niners were forced to move up the midweek matchup with Morehead State and put together a doubleheader against Kent State.
Arkansas and Charlotte were supposed to meet in Charlotte, North Carolina for a two-game midweek series last year, but snow forced the cancellation of their game that was scheduled to be played at BB&T Park, the Triple-A ballpark for the Charlotte Knights. The Niners won the only game of the series the next day, 6-3, but Heston Kjerstad was responsible for all three of Arkansas’ runs as he hit two homers in the game.
Follow Live
Wednesday’s game will be available on SEC Network+ via the Watch ESPN app and WatchESPN.com. Brett Dolan (PxP) and Troy Eklund (Analyst) will call the action. Scott Inman (PxP) and Bubba Carpenter (Analyst) will have the radio call on the Razorback Sports Network.
Fans can listen to the radio call via the Razorback Gameday app and locally on KQSM 92.1 FM. Pregame coverage begins 30 minutes prior to first pitch. There will also be a live radio link available on ArkansasRazorbacks.com.
Important Links
Arkansas vs. Charlotte – WATCH | LIVE STATS
Probable Starters
(ARK) LHP Patrick Wicklander (0-1, 5.40 ERA, 13 K, 5 BB) vs. (CHA) RHP Ryan Czanstkowski (0-0, 4.50 ERA, 3 K, 1 BB)
Razorback Prime Nine
>> The Razorbacks welcome Charlotte on Wednesday for a single midweek game. The series was supposed to include two games, but cold weather forced a cancellation of game one.
>> this is the second-straight year the Razorbacks will take on the 49ers. Last year, both teams were scheduled for a two-game midweek series, but cold weather also cancelled game one.
>> Freshman Patrick Wicklander will make his second start in as many weeks. Last week against Memphis, Wicklander struck out four over three innings, walking one and giving up two runs.
>> Arkansas remained perfect at home last week with wins over Memphis and Stony Brook. The Hogs are 7-0 at Baum-Walker Stadium this year and have won 22 of their last 23 home games dating back to April 14, 2018.
>> Redshirt senior infielder Trevor Ezell leads all Razorback hitters with a .432 average through the first 10 games and has reached base in every game with a hit in nine of 10 games.
>> Arkansas has put more emphasis on stolen bases than in year’s past as it has stolen 26 bases so far this year, including five or more twice. Ezell leads the team with six swipes.
>> Arkansas saw major production from the top-three in its lineup last week as Casey Martin, Heston Kjerstad and Trevor Ezell combined to go 18-for-49 (.367) with Kjerstad going 7-for-18 (.389) with two runs scored, two doubles and four RBIs.
>> Junior Jack Kenley leads the team with three home runs after hitting two in back-to-back at-bats in last week’s series finale against Stony Brook. Kenley had not homered in 84 at-bats prior to the 2019 season.
>> Redshirt junior Isaiah Campbell enters week four off one of his best outings in his collegiate career. He went seven innings against Stony Brook and struck out a career-high 13 batters with only one walk.
Up Next
Arkansas continues its homestand this weekend with a three-game series against Louisiana Tech starting on Friday at 6 p.m. at Baum-Walker Stadium. Games two and three are slated for 1 p.m. starts and all games will be televised on SEC Network+.
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