Baseball Set for Weekend in Fayetteville with No. 7 Arkansas
4/26/2018 4:08:00 PM | Baseball
The Crimson Tide and Razorbacks will meet for the 86th time in series history in the series opener on Friday night
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Crimson Tide takes to the road once again this weekend as Alabama baseball travels to Fayetteville to take on seventh-ranked Arkansas at Baum Stadium. The series kicks off on Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT, followed by a 6 p.m. matchup on Saturday and a 1 p.m. start in the series finale on Sunday.
FOLLOW THE TIDE
Fans can follow this weekend's games via the below outlets:
Watch: SEC Network+
Listen: 102.9 FM / CTSN / TuneIn App
Twitter: @AlabamaBSB
Live Stats: ArkansasRazorbacks.com
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
FRIDAY: UA – Sam Finnerty (Jr., RHP) vs. ARK – Blaine Knight (Jr., RHP)
SATURDAY: UA – Jake Walters (Sr., RHP) vs. ARK – Kacey Murphy (Jr., LHP)
SUNDAY: UA – Garret Rukes (R-Fr., LHP) vs. ARK – Isaiah Campbell (R-So., RHP)
LEADING OFF
• Alabama and Arkansas will meet for the 86th time in series history when the two teams begin the three-game series on Friday night at Baum Stadium.
• The Crimson Tide holds the all-time series advantage at 47-38 but trails in Fayetteville, 21-18.
• The two teams have traded series wins in the last pair of three-game matchups, with the Crimson Tide sweeping the Razorbacks in the last meeting in Fayetteville from May 13-15, 2016. Prior to the Tide's sweep, the Hogs had won four straight series including a pair of sweeps of the Tide during that stretch.
• Alabama and Arkansas last met from March 31-April 2 at Sewell-Thomas Stadium with the Razorbacks claiming a 2-1 series win over the Tide. The three-game set opened with a 7-1 Arkansas win followed by a 7-1 victory for the Tide. The series wrapped up with the Hogs earning an 8-5 win on getaway day to take the series.
• Arkansas welcomes the Crimson Tide to Baum Stadium holding a 29-13 overall record and a 10-8 mark in Southeastern Conference play to earn the nation's No. 7 ranking in the most recent Baseball America and USA Today Coaches polls. The Razorbacks have been tough at home this season, sporting a 24-3 mark in games played in Fayetteville. Arkansas has split its six SEC series thus far, most recently suffering a three-game sweep at the hands of Mississippi State in Starkville last weekend.
• The Razorbacks hosted fourth-ranked Texas Tech on Tuesday evening, securing a 5-1 win in the first of what was scheduled for two games. Inclimate weather forced a cancelation of Wednesday's second game between the Razorbacks and Red Raiders.
• Alabama continues its regular SEC weekend rotation for the three-game series in Fayetteville. Junior right-hander Sam Finnerty will get the start in the series opener on Friday and will be followed by senior righty Jake Walters on Saturday. Redshirt-freshman Garret Rukes will get the call on Sunday, with the left-hander scheduled to close out the weekend.
• Arkansas will open the series with junior right-hander Blaine Knight on the hill on Friday night. Junior southpaw Kacey Murphy will get the call on Saturday with redshirt sophomore Isaiah Campbell, a righty, toeing the rubber in the series finale.
ABOUT ALABAMA
• Alabama is 1-3 over its last four games leading into this weekend's series with the Razorbacks. The Crimson Tide was swept last weekend by Auburn at home. Most recently, the Tide defeated Troy in a midweek contest on Tuesday evening, 4-3, to break its three-game losing streak.
• The Crimson Tide used a four-run first inning to gain the early advantage and would go on to outlast Troy, 4-3, on Tuesday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Alabama offense was highlighted by Chandler Avant, who finished 2-for-4 on the night for his team-leading 18th multi-hit game of the season. The senior also contributed a team-high three RBI and added one run scored. Freshman Sam Praytor joined Avant with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3.
• On the mound, Alabama starter Brock Love earned his second win of the season. The redshirt sophomore tossed 1.0 scoreless frame and struck out a pair of Trojan hitters in his first start since March 12, 2017. The Tide relief effort consisted of six additional arms that combined for the final 8.0 innings with redshirt sophomore Kyle Cameron earning his first career save. Cameron dealt 2.0 scoreless frames with one strikeout on the backend to help secure the Alabama win.
• Alabama fell, 19-5, to 25th-ranked Auburn on Friday night in front of a sellout crowd at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Tigers got on the board with one in the top of the first and added another run in the fourth.
• The Crimson Tide took the lead in the bottom of the fourth with three runs, but Auburn answered with five in the fifth and seventh along with a six-run sixth and one in the ninth to secure the win. Alabama plated single tallies in the seventh and eighth innings but would get no closer.
• UA fell in both games of Saturday's doubleheader with Auburn. The Tigers came away with a 5-0 win in game one before claiming a 20-5 victory in the series finale. In game one, Auburn scored a run in the third and added a pair in the fifth to take a 3-0 lead. The Tigers collected single tallies in the seventh and ninth for the 5-0 win to start the twinbill. The Crimson Tide then fell, 20-5, in game two, as Auburn claimed the series sweep.
• Alabama starter Jake Walters suffered the loss in Saturday's first contest despite a strong outing that saw the senior strike out seven in 6.0 innings of work. Cobie Vance led the Tide in hitting in game one, contributing a 2-for-4 game with a double.
• The Tide then suffered a 20-5 defeat in game two of the doubleheader with Auburn. Alabama received another strong offensive performance from Vance, with the junior finishing 2-for-5 with an RBI and one run scored for his 14th multi-hit effort of the season.
• Alabama returned 21 letterwinners while losing 11 from the 2017 squad. The 2018 Crimson Tide welcomed back eight positional starters and three starting pitchers while hosting 11 newcomers (including one transfer who sat out last season).
ABOUT ARKANSAS
• Arkansas returned 22 letterwinners, including 11 positional starters and 11 pitchers, from a 2017 squad that finished 45-19 overall and 18-11 in Southeastern Conference play to finish second in the Western Division. The Razorbacks went on to host an NCAA Regional at Baum Stadium, going 3-2 in the postseason. The 2018 roster is without 11 lettermen from a season ago, a number that includes four positional starters and five pitchers, while the Hogs welcomed 16 newcomers.
• The Razorbacks were selected to finish atop the Western Division and second overall in the SEC, receiving one first-place vote, in the league's preseason poll, as voted on by the conference's head coaches.
• Dave Van Horn is in his 16th year leading the Arkansas baseball program and his 24th season overall as a Division I head coach. In total, Van Horn has accumulated 30 seasons as a collegiate head coach, including stints at the Division II and Junior College levels. Van Horn is assisted by Nate Thompson and Wes Johnson along with volunteer assistant Craig Parry.
• Founded in 1897, Arkansas baseball entered the 2018 season with an all-time program mark of 2,148-1,363-6. The Razorbacks have made 29 postseason appearances in history, including eight stints at the College World Series in Omaha.
• A public land-grant, doctoral research university that is located in Fayetteville, the University of Arkansas is the largest, best-known university in the state and the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System. Currently sporting an enrollment of 27,558, it was founded in 1871 as Arkansas Industrial University before adopting the current name in 1899.
ON DECK
Alabama will take the work week off as the Crimson Tide student-athletes focus on final exams. Following the five-day break, the Mississippi State Bulldogs will come to town from May 4-6 for a weekend series at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The first two games are slated for 6 p.m. CT starts with the series finale scheduled for a 3 p.m. first pitch. The two games to start the series will air live on SEC Network+ with the finale on Sunday set to air nationally on ESPNU.
