Hogs Travel to Palmetto State for SEC Weekend Series against Gamecocks
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Following its midweek sweep of Texas Tech, No. 2 Arkansas (32-5, 12-3 SEC) hits the road for its second SEC weekend series in a row to face No. 20 South Carolina (26-11, 8-7 SEC) in a three-game set at Founders Park.
First pitch in Friday’s series opener is slated for 6 p.m. CT Friday, April 19, with games two and three scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. CT Saturday, April 20, and 12:30 p.m. CT Sunday, April 21, respectively. All three games of the weekend series will be streamed on SEC Network+ with Dave Weinstein (play-by-play) and Kip Bouknight (analyst) on the call.
Arkansas heads to the Palmetto State seeking its fourth consecutive regular-season weekend series win against South Carolina. The Razorbacks, who have not lost a series to the Gamecocks since 2016, have won five of the last six regular-season weekend series against their SEC Eastern Division opponent, including road series wins in 2013 and 2021.
Schedule
Friday, April 19
#2 Arkansas vs. #20 South Carolina – 6 p.m. – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats
Saturday, April 20
#2 Arkansas vs. #25 Alabama – 2 p.m. – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats
Sunday, April 21
#2 Arkansas vs. #25 Alabama – 12:30 p.m. – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats
On the Mound
Friday, April 19
Arkansas – LHP Hagen Smith (7-0, 1.53 ERA)
South Carolina – RHP Roman Kimball (2-1, 4.71 ERA)
Saturday, April 20
Arkansas – LHP Mason Molina (3-0, 3.32 ERA)
South Carolina – RHP Eli Jones (3-1, 3.57 ERA)
Sunday, April 21
Arkansas – RHP Brady Tygart (3-1, 2.59 ERA)
South Carolina – TBA
Tune In
Dave Weinstein (play-by-play) and Kip Bouknight (analyst) have the call between the Razorbacks and Gamecocks on SEC Network+. The 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. A full list of radio affiliates is available here.
History Lesson
Arkansas maintains a 46-36 overall series record against South Carolina, including a 16-17 record in games played in Columbia. Under head coach Dave Van Horn, the Hogs are 30-22 overall and 12-9 on the road in the series.
Since 2013, Arkansas is 14-8 overall against South Carolina. The Razorbacks have won five of their last six regular-season weekend series against the Gamecocks since the 2013 campaign, including two of their last three road weekend series.
It Just Means More Wins
Arkansas is 12-3 through 15 games of SEC play for only the third time since joining the conference ahead of the 1992 season. The Razorbacks also started 12-3 through 15 games of SEC play during the 1999 and 2010 campaigns.
With two wins to clinch this weekend’s series in Columbia, Arkansas would improve to 14-4 through 18 games of SEC play for only the second time in program history, and for the first time since the 1999 campaign. With a weekend series sweep, the Razorbacks would improve to 15-3 through 18 games of SEC play for the first time in program history.
H. Smith’s Strikeout Sprint
Arkansas ace Hagen Smith, slated to take the mound in Friday night’s series opener against South Carolina, is 7-0 with a 1.63 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 47.0 innings over nine starts this season. Through his first five SEC starts of the year, the national pitcher of the month for March is 5-0 with a 1.20 ERA and a team-leading 49 strikeouts in 23.0 innings.
Entering Friday, Smith leads the nation in strikeouts per nine innings (17.0) and is ranked second nationally in hits allowed per nine innings (4.2), fourth in strikeouts (88) and victories (7), as well as fifth in ERA (1.53) and WHIP (0.83). Behind his dominance on the mound, the Arkansas pitching staff is ranked first nationally in ERA (2.79), hits allowed per nine innings (6.4), strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.0), strikeouts per nine innings (12.4) and WHIP (1.1) entering Friday.
Smith has recorded 288 career strikeouts in 196.0 innings of work. His 288 career punchouts are third on Arkansas’ career strikeouts list, and he is just 13 strikeouts shy of matching Matt Carnes (301) for second in program history.
Career Strikeouts
1. 345 – Nick Schmidt (2003-06)
2. 301 – Matt Carnes (1979-82)
3. 288 – Hagen Smith (2022-present)
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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