Hogs Head to Bluegrass State for Top-10 Showdown against Wildcats
LEXINGTON, Ky. – SEC Western Division leader No. 2 Arkansas (39-7, 16-5 SEC) travels to the Bluegrass State for a top-10 showdown against SEC Eastern Division leader No. 8 Kentucky (33-9, 16-5 SEC) this weekend at Kentucky Proud Park.
First pitch in the weekend series opener between the Razorbacks and Wildcats is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT Friday, May 3, on SEC Network+ with Dick Gabriel (play-by-play) and Doug Flynn (analyst) on the call. Games two and three, which will also stream on SEC Network+, begin at 1 p.m. CT Saturday May 4, and noon CT Sunday, May 5, respectively.
Arkansas enters this weekend’s three-game set seeking its seventh consecutive series win against Kentucky, as well as its fourth consecutive road series win over the Wildcats. The Hogs have not lost a weekend series in Lexington since 2011.
Schedule
Friday, May 3
#2 Arkansas vs. #8 Kentucky – 5:30 p.m. CT – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats
Saturday, May 4
#2 Arkansas vs. #8 Kentucky – 1 p.m. CT – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats
Sunday, May 5
#2 Arkansas vs. #8 Kentucky – Noon CT – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats
On the Mound
Friday, May 3
Arkansas – LHP Hagen Smith (8-0, 1.35 ERA)
Kentucky – RHP Trey Pooser (3-0, 3.75 ERA)
Saturday, May 4
Arkansas – RHP Brady Tygart (4-1, 2.68 ERA)
Kentucky – LHP Dominic Niman (7-3, 5.00 ERA)
Sunday, May 5
Arkansas – LHP Mason Molina (3-1, 3.47 ERA)
Kentucky – RHP Mason Moore (7-1, 5.08 ERA)
Tune In
Dick Gabriel (play-by-play) and Doug Flynn (analyst) have the call of this weekend’s series between second-ranked Arkansas and eighth-ranked Kentucky at Kentucky Proud Park. All three games will stream on SEC Network+.
The weekend series 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 Phil Elson on the call. A full list of radio affiliates is available here.
History Lesson
Arkansas maintains a 47-26 overall series record against Kentucky, including a 19-14 record in games played in Lexington. Under head coach Dave Van Horn, the Hogs are 29-13 overall and 13-8 on the road against the Wildcats.
Since 2013, Arkansas is 14-4 against Kentucky and has won six consecutive weekend series. The Razorbacks, who have not lost series in Lexington since 2011, are going for their fourth straight weekend road series win over the Wildcats.
It Just Means More Wins
Arkansas is 16-5 in SEC play for the first time in program history since joining the conference ahead of the 1992 season.
With a series win or sweep this weekend, Arkansas can clinch its best 24-game SEC start in program history. The Hogs’ best 24-game SEC start in school history is 17-7, which they have achieved four times – 1999, 2019, 2021 and 2023.
The Best Pitcher in College Baseball
Arkansas ace Hagen Smith, slated to take the mound in Friday night’s series opener against Kentucky, is 8-0 with a team-leading 1.35 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 61.0 innings over 11 starts this season. The junior left-hander, who is also 6-0 with a 1.05 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 43.0 innings through seven SEC starts this year, has logged a team-best nine quality starts and recorded a team-high eight double-digit strikeout performances.
Entering Friday, Smith leads the nation in strikeouts per nine innings (16.7) and hits allowed per nine innings (3.9) and is ranked second nationally in ERA (1.35), fourth in strikeouts (111) and WHIP (0.82) and fifth in victories (8). Led by his dominance on the mound, the Arkansas pitching staff is ranked first nationally in ERA (3.12), hits allowed per nine innings (6.5), strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.5), strikeouts per nine innings (12.3) and WHIP (1.11) entering Friday.
Smith, who is one of only four NCAA Division I pitchers with 100 or more strikeouts this season, has recorded 310 career strikeouts in 209.0 innings of work. His 310 career punchouts rank second on Arkansas’ career strikeouts list, and he is just 35 strikeouts shy of matching Nick Schmidt (345) for first in program history.
Career Strikeouts
1. 345 – Nick Schmidt (2003-06)
2. 310 – Hagen Smith (2022-present)
3. 301 – Matt Carnes (1979-82)
4. 283 – David Walling (1998-99)
5. 261 – Scott Tabor (1979-82)
6. 244 – Blaine Knight (2016-18)
7. 232 – Kevin Kopps (2017-21)
8. 229 – Charley Boyce (2003-06)
9. 225 – Gerald Hannahs (1971-74)
10. 224 – Isaiah Campbell (2016-19)
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