Hogs Hunt First Series Win in Gainesville since 2012
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Fifth-ranked Arkansas (36-7, 13-5 SEC), hunting its first weekend series win in Gainesville, Fla., in 13 years, hits the road to take on Florida (28-15, 6-12 SEC) from April 25-27 at Condron Family Ballpark.
First pitch in the series opener between the Razorbacks and Gators is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT Friday, April 25, on SEC Network+ with Sean Kelley (play-by-play) and Nick Belmonte (analyst) on the call. Arkansas, seeking its first series win against Florida in Gainesville since 2012, has won two of its first three SEC road weekend series this year, claiming two-of-three games at then-No. 13 Ole Miss on SEC Opening Weekend before sweeping then-No. 14 Vanderbilt in Nashville.
Arkansas, which enters the weekend at 13-5 in SEC play, has dropped each of its last two SEC series and looks to avoid its third straight SEC series loss for the first time since 2016, when it finished a program-worst 7-23 in league play.
Schedule
Friday, April 25
#5 Arkansas vs. Florida – 5:30 p.m. CT – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats
Saturday, April 26
#5 Arkansas vs. Florida – 2 p.m. CT – SEC Network – Listen – Live Stats
Sunday, April 27
#5 Arkansas vs. Florida – Noon CT – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats
On the Mound
Friday, April 25
Arkansas – LHP Zach Root (5-2, 4.19 ERA)
Florida – RHP Liam Peterson (6-2, 3.74 ERA)
Saturday, April 26
Arkansas – RHP Gage Wood (0-0, 6.14 ERA)
Florida – RHP Aidan King (4-1, 3.63 ERA)
Sunday, April 27
Arkansas – LHP Landon Beidelschies (4-0, 4.06 ERA)
Florida – TBA
Tune In
Sean Kelley (play-by-play) and Nick Belmonte (analyst) have the call of Friday’s series opener and Sunday’s series finale between fifth-ranked Arkansas and Florida on SEC Network+. Roy Philpott (play-by-play) and Jensen Lewis (analyst), meanwhile, will take over in the broadcast booth for Saturday’s contest, which televises nationally on SEC Network.
This weekend’s 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
Entering the weekend, Arkansas boasts a 38-36 overall record against Florida, including a 13-20 mark in games played in Gainesville. Under Dave Van Horn, the Razorbacks are 31-24 overall and 10-14 in Gainesville against the Gators.
Arkansas has won two of its last three weekend series against Florida, with both series wins coming inside the friendly confines of Baum-Walker Stadium in 2021 and 2024. The Hogs, however, dropped two-of-three games in Gainesville during the 2022 campaign and have not clinched a road weekend series against the Gators since the 2012 season.
In the Van Horn era (2003-pres.), Arkansas has won only two weekend series in six tries at Florida, accomplishing the feat in 2008 and 2012. Since 2012, the Razorbacks have lost three consecutive series (2014, 2018 & 2022) in Gainesville.
Snap the Streak in The Swamp
Arkansas is looking to snap its 13-year drought without a series win at Florida. The 13-year drought at Florida is the Razorbacks’ longest active streak without a series win at a road venue where they have played SEC games.
Arkansas snapped a 15-year streak without a series win at Vanderbilt in March with a sweep at Hawkins Field.
It Just Means More Wins
Arkansas, which enters this weekend’s series in sole possession of second place in the SEC at 13-5 through its first 18 games of league play, has won 18 or more SEC games in seven consecutive seasons (2017-24). LSU is the only other team in SEC history to record at least seven consecutive seasons of 18-plus SEC victories (10 from 1996-2005).
Additionally, Arkansas has finished with 20 or more SEC victories in a season five times in program history, including four times under head coach Dave Van Horn. The Razorbacks reached the 20-win mark in SEC play in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024 for the first time in program history. Arkansas, which has reached the 20-win mark in SEC play in four of the last five full seasons, is the first team since LSU from 1994-97 to post four 20-win SEC campaigns in five years.
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