Razorbacks Tangle with Cowboys in Final Non-Conference Weekend Series
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – In the final non-conference weekend series before SEC play gets underway, No. 2 Arkansas (10-2) welcomes in Southland Conference foe McNeese (8-5) for a three-game set from March 8-10 at Baum-Walker Stadium.
First pitch in the series opener between the Razorbacks and Cowboys is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday, March 8, on SEC Network+. Game two between Arkansas and McNeese gets going at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 9, on SEC Network+ before the weekend series is set to conclude at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 10, on SEC Network+.
Entering this weekend’s three-game matchup with McNeese, Arkansas has won 29 consecutive non-conference home weekend series. The Razorbacks have not lost or tied a non-conference regular season weekend series at Baum-Walker Stadium since dropping two-of-three games against South Alabama during the 2014 campaign.
Schedule
Friday, March 8
McNeese vs. #2 Arkansas – 3 p.m. – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats
Saturday, March 9
McNeese vs. #2 Arkansas – 2 p.m. – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats
Sunday, March 10
McNeese vs. #2 Arkansas – 1 p.m. – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats
On the Mound
Friday, March 8
McNeese – RHP Zach Voss (0-2, 10.03 ERA)
Arkansas – LHP Hagen Smith (1-0, 2.77 ERA)
Saturday, March 9
McNeese – TBA
Arkansas – RHP Brady Tygart (2-0, 1.12 ERA)
Sunday, March 10
McNeese – TBA
Arkansas – LHP Mason Molina (2-0, 1.98 ERA)
Tune In
Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Razorback great and former big leaguer Logan Forsythe (analyst) have the call of Friday’s game on SEC Network+. University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor inductee and former All-America outfielder Troy Eklund (analyst) will rejoin Dolan in the broadcast booth for Saturday and Sunday’s games on SEC Network+.
The entire weekend series between Arkansas and McNeese 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 (play-by-play) and Razorback great Bubba Carpenter (analyst) on the call. Nick Badders (play-by-play) will fill in for Elson on Friday.
A full list of radio affiliates is available here.
History Lesson
Arkansas is 6-3 all-time against McNeese, including a 4-3 mark in games played in Fayetteville. Under head coach Dave Van Horn, the Razorbacks are 5-1 overall against the Cowboys, including a 3-1 record at Baum-Walker Stadium.
H. Smith the Ace
Arkansas ace Hagen Smith, who is slated to take the mound in Friday’s series opener against McNeese, is 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 13.0 innings over three starts this season. The junior left-hander is currently tied for fifth in the country in total strikeouts (31) and ranks first nationally in strikeouts per nine innings (21.5).
Entering Friday, Smith has recorded 230 career strikeouts in 162.0 innings. His 230 career punchouts rank seventh on Arkansas’ career strikeouts list, and he is two shy of matching Razorback great Kevin Kopps (232) for sixth all-time.
Career Strikeouts
1. 345 – Nick Schmidt (2003-06)
2. 301 – Matt Carnes (1979-82)
3. 283 – David Walling (1998-99)
4. 261 – Scott Tabor (1979-82)
5. 244 – Blaine Knight (2016-18)
6. 232 – Kevin Kopps (2017-21)
7. 230 – Hagen Smith (2022-pres.)
8. 229 – Charley Boyce (2003-06)
9. 225 – Gerald Hannahs (1971-74)
10. 224 – Isaiah Campbell (2016-19)
Serving Strikeouts
The Arkansas pitching staff leads the country in total strikeouts (174) and strikeouts per nine innings (14.8) through 12 games. Hagen Smith (31) is tied for fifth in the nation in total strikeouts, while Mason Molina (29) is tied for No. 12.
Over the last nine games, Razorback starting pitchers are a combined 7-0 with a jaw-dropping 1.07 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 42.0 innings of work, having allowed just five runs on 19 hits, including three solo homers, and only eight walks while limiting opposing hitters to a minuscule .134 batting average against.
Good Start
The Hogs are 10-2 through their first 12 games of the 2024 season. Arkansas has gotten off to a 10-2 or better start 12 times under head coach Dave Van Horn, including in 2003-06, 2008, 2011-12, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2023 and now 2024.
Last season, the Hogs went 18-2 through their first 20 games. Since 1960, Arkansas has begun 18-2 or better through its first 20 games eight times (1982, 1995-96, 2003, 2005, 2012, 2019 and 2023), as well as five times in the Van Horn era.
Home Sweet Baum-Walker
The Razorbacks are 8-1 inside the friendly confines of Baum-Walker Stadium this season.
Last season, Arkansas went 32-6 (.842 winning percentage) at Baum-Walker Stadium. It was the Razorbacks’ fourth 30-win season at home since the stadium opened in 1996. Excluding the shortened 2020 campaign, the Hogs have won 28 games or more at home in six consecutive seasons, including a program-record 34 wins in 2018.
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