Hogs Welcome Kentucky For Weekend Series
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas baseball team (18-15, 5-7) welcomes the University of Kentucky (18-13, 4-7) to town for a three-game SEC weekend series at Baum Stadium.
Tickets
Single game tickets to the series can be purchased by clicking here.
Follow Live
All three games will broadcasted live on SEC Network Plus and the WatchESPN App with Alex Perlman (PXP) and Troy Eklund (Analyst), while Phil Elson (PXP) and Rick Schaeffer (Analyst) will have the call on the IMG Razorback Sports Network.
Weekend Promotions
Friday
• The Arkansas women’s track and field National Championship team will be signing autographs on the concourse
• U of A Faculty Appreciation Night
Saturday
• Chili Cook-Off (Tickets)
• The first 1,000 fans receive a pint glass
• 70’s theme night
Sunday
• Student Giveaway: Arkansas Razorback eye black
• Junior Razorbacks Day
Probable Starters
Fri. | 6:35p | (ARK) RHP Trey Killian vs. (UK) RHP Zack Brown)
Sat. | 6:05p | (ARK) RHP Dominic Taccolini vs. (UK) RHP Dustin Beggs
Sun. | 12:05p | (ARK) TBA vs (UK) RHP Kyle Cody
Friday Probable Starter – RHP Trey Killian
Trey Killian makes his second straight start in the Friday night series-opening role as the Razorbacks look to capture their third consecutive SEC series win. The junior is coming off a no-decision at Auburn, tossing 6.0 innings and giving up four earned runs on eight hits. He allowed four combined earned runs in his first three starts and nine over his last two appearances. Killian will face Kentucky for the first time in his career.
Saturday Probable Starter – RHP Dominic Taccolini
Dominic Taccolini makes his ninth start of the year Saturday and fifth in SEC play as the sophomore looks for his team-leading sixth win of the year. He has allowed three earned runs or less in all eight starts this season, including just one in last week’s 7.0-inning outing at Auburn. Taccolini has recorded seven or more strikeouts in a start three times this year, including a career-high nine punch outs against Loyola Marymount. Five of his eight starts on the year have been quality starts with Arkansas posting a 4-1 record in those game.
Leading Off
• The Razorbacks are coming off back-to-back SEC series wins, taking two of three from Ole Miss and Auburn.
• Arkansas is currently in a three-way tie with Ole Miss and Mississippi State for third place in the SEC West at 5-7 in conference play, sitting behind Texas A&M and LSU.
• The Razorbacks hit four home runs in midweek action and have 32 home runs in 33 games this season to rank fourth in the SEC.
• Arkansas has posted consecutive SEC victories when trailing after 7.0 innings, combining to score eight runs over the final two innings in wins at Auburn.
• The Razorback pitching staff has posted a 2.42 ERA over the last eight games with 82 strikeouts and holding opponents to a .238 batting average.
• Zach Jackson ranks second in the SEC with a 1.76 ERA as he continues to stifle hitters with 43 strikeouts in 30.2 innings of work. He has 15 strikeouts out of the last 26 outs he has recorded and leads the SEC with only one extra base hit allowed.
• Bobby Wernes continues to pace the offense with a .353 batting average. He has hit safely in 26 of 32 games this season and has multiple hits in six of the last 10 contests.
• Josh Alberius, the infielder turned pitcher, has become one of Arkansas’ best relievers in 2015, posting a 1.99 ERA in 14 appearances. He has allowed just five earned runs on the year and has 16 strikeouts to six walks.
Benintendi Bullets
• Leads the SEC and ranks second in the country with 11 home runs on the year.
• Has four home runs in the last five games.
• Has nine RBI in the last five games.
• Has hit safely in 15 of the last 16 games, including six straight.
• Has recorded a hit, RBI and run scored in each of the last three games.
• His five runs scored Wednesday against MVSU is the most in the SEC this season.
• Has raised his batting average 41 points to .350 during his current six-game hitting streak.
• Ranks second in the SEC with 84 total bases.
• Leads the SEC with a .718 slugging percentage.
• Has nine walks and four stolen bases in the last 10 games.
Here’s The Ball, Youngster
The freshmen and sophomores on the pitching staff have combined to throw 203 of a possible 292 innings this season for 69.5 percent. The trio of Dominic Taccolini, Zach Jackson and Keaton McKinney have thrown 113.0 of the 202.0 innings by the underclassmen. Jackson’s 1.76 ERA and 1.40 strikeouts per inning leads the team.
DVH Hits Milestone Win
Head coach Dave Van Horn picked up his 500th victory at Arkansas in the series finale at Auburn and currently has 1,087 career wins in his 27-year career as a head coach. Van Horn joins Razorback legend Norm DeBriyn as the only two coaches in program history to record 500 wins during their tenure at Arkansas. Debriyn and Van Horn have combined for 81-percent of the wins in Arkansas’ history. He is also one of only three active coaches in the SEC with 500 wins at his current institution.
Roll It Up
Arkansas has turned 34 double plays on the year to rank second in the SEC behind Mississippi State (40). The Razorbacks have turned 215 double plays over the last four years to rank No. 4 in the country during this span. Mississippi State (241) leads the nation, followed by Georgia Tech (223) and Southern Miss (218).
Inside the Round Trippers
Arkansas two inside the park home runs this season, including one from the SEC leader in home runs, Andrew Benintendi. The slugger recorded his on Wednesday against Mississippi Valley State in the third inning, joining Rick Nomura who accomplished the feat on opening weekend against North Dakota in the second game of the year.
Series History
Arkansas is 35-23 all-time against Kentucky, including a series win over the Wildcats in the most recent meeting during the 2013 season in Lexington. Nine of the last 10 matchups have been decided by two runs or less, with the Razorbacks picking up a win in five of those games. Arkansas has an 18-9 edge over Kentucky in the 27 meetings in Fayetteville.
10 for 10 – The Tyler Spoon Story
Tyler Spoon is currently on a 10-game hitting streak and has posted two separate 10-game hitting streaks this season through the first 33 games of the year. He has hit safely in 26 of his 31 games played and has 17 base knocks during his current 10-game hitting streak.
Coming Up
After a three-game series with Kentucky, Arkansas welcomes Stephen F. Austin to town for two midweek games at Baum Stadium, before traveling to top-ranked Texas A&M next weekend.
For more information on Arkansas baseball, follow @RazorbackBSB on Twitter.
