Razorbacks, Tigers Tangle on The Plains
AUBURN, Ala. – No. 17 Arkansas (19-11, 4-5 SEC) and No. 18 Auburn (20-8, 4-5 SEC), both swept in their previous SEC weekend series and now seeking to snap their season-long four-game losing streaks, will tangle in a three-game set on April 2-4 at Plainsman Park. First pitch in the series opener between the Razorbacks and Tigers is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, April 2, on ESPN2 with Richard Cross (play-by-play) and Jensen Lewis (analyst) on the call.
The second game of the weekend series gets underway at 6 p.m. Friday, April 3, on SEC Network+ with Wiley Ballard (play-by-play) and Mark Fuller (analyst) on the call. Arkansas and Auburn will conclude the weekend with a 2 p.m. first pitch in the series finale Saturday, April 4, on SEC Network+ with Ballard and Fuller in the broadcast booth.
With a 4-5 record, Arkansas is off to its worst nine-game SEC start since 2016 when it also began 4-5 before finishing 7-23 in league play. Before this season, the Hogs had started 5-4 or better through their first nine SEC games in eight consecutive campaigns: 2017 (7-2), 2018 (5-4), 2019 (6-3), 2021 (7-2), 2022 (7-2), 2023 (6-3), 2024 (8-1), 2025 (8-1).
As a result, the Razorbacks’ streak of starting 8-4 or better through 12 SEC games for eight consecutive seasons from 2017-25, which marked the best stretch of starting 8-4 or better in conference play by a team since LSU accomplished the feat in eight consecutive seasons from 1991-98, was snapped. Arkansas needs a series win or sweep this weekend to avoid a losing record through its first 12 SEC games for the first time since 2016 when it went 4-8 through 12 SEC games.
Schedule
Thursday, April 2
#17 Arkansas vs. #18 Auburn – 6 p.m. – ESPN2 – Listen – Live Stats
Friday, April 3
#17 Arkansas vs. #18 Auburn – 6 p.m. – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats
Saturday, April 4
#17 Arkansas vs. #18 Auburn – 2 p.m. – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats
On the Mound
Thursday, April 2
Arkansas – RHP Gabe Gaeckle (3-2, 3.58 ERA)
Auburn – RHP Andreas Alvarez (4-1, 0.85 ERA)
Friday, April 3
Arkansas – TBA
Auburn – LHP Jake Marciano (3-1, 1.30 ERA)
Saturday, April 4
Arkansas – TBA
Auburn – TBA
Tune In
Thursday night’s series opener between No. 17 Arkansas and No. 18 Auburn will broadcast nationally on ESPN2 with Richard Cross (play-by-play) and Jensen Lewis (analyst) on the call. Friday and Saturday’s games , meanwhile, will stream on SEC Network+ with Wiley Ballard (play-by-play) and Mark Fuller (analyst) in the broadcast booth.
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 is 56-50 overall against Auburn, including a 22-26 record in games played in Auburn, Ala. Under head coach Dave Van Horn (2003-pres.), the Razorbacks are 41-24 overall and 19-14 at Plainsman Park against the Tigers.
The Hogs, who are 8-2 in the last 10 meetings and 22-7 since 2015 against Auburn, have won six consecutive weekend series against the Tigers, including three consecutive weekend series wins on the road at Plainsman Park (2019, 2022 and 2024). Arkansas’ last weekend series loss at Auburn came during the 2017 campaign, dropping two-of-three games.
Perfect Game Midseason All-Americans
Arkansas’ Cole Gibler and Ryder Helfrick have been named midseason All-Americans by Perfect Game. Gibler earned second-team praise as a relief pitcher, and Helfrick earned third-team recognition at catcher.
Gibler has dominated in the bullpen, boasting a 3-0 record with a team-leading 1.75 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 25.2 innings across seven relief appearances. The left-hander, who has logged one save on the year, has allowed just five runs on 14 hits and nine walks while limiting opponents to a miniscule .156 batting average against this season.
Helfrick, meanwhile, is slashing .290/.453/.600 with a team-leading nine home runs and 26 RBI through 29 games on the year. He leads the Razorbacks in walks (33) and sacrifice flies (4), and is 5-for-6 in stolen base attempts. Defensively, the Discovery Bay, Calif., has made all 29 of his starts behind the plate, where he owns a .991 fielding percentage with just three errors in 322 total chances while also throwing out 5-of-24 attempted base stealers (20.8 percent).
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