Hogs head To Alabama for SEC weekend road series with ‘Bama

Top-ranked Arkansas set for three-game clash with Crimson Tide

From the University of Arkansas

arkansasrazorbacks.com

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Unanimous No. 1 Arkansas (29-3, 11-1 SEC) heads to the Druid City for a three-game weekend road series against SEC Western Division foe No. 25 Alabama (22-11, 4-8 SEC). First pitch in the series opener between the Razorbacks and Crimson Tide is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, April 12, in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on SEC Network+.

Game two of the series between Arkansas and Alabama at Sewell-Thomas Stadium is set for 5 p.m. Saturday, April 13, on SEC Network+. The weekend finale, meanwhile, gets underway at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 14, on SEC Network+.

Head coach Dave Van Horn and the Razorbacks are off to a blazing hot start through the first 32 games of the 2024 campaign. Arkansas boasts a 29-3 overall record this season, its most wins though 32 games in program history, and sits at 11-1 in SEC play, its best 12-game start in SEC play since joining the conference ahead of the 1992 season.

Schedule

Friday, April 12 #1 Arkansas vs. #25 Alabama – 6 p.m. – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats Saturday, April 13 #1 Arkansas vs. #25 Alabama – 5 p.m. – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats Sunday, April 14 #1 Arkansas vs. #25 Alabama – 1 p.m. – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats

On the Mound

Friday, April 12 Arkansas – LHP Hagen Smith (6-0, 1.76 ERA) Alabama – RHP Ben Hess (32, 6.03 ERA) Saturday, April 13 Arkansas – LHP Mason Molina (3-0, 3.38 ERA) Alabama – LHP Greg Farone (3-1, 3.28 ERA) Sunday, April 14 Arkansas – RHP Brady Tygart (3-0, 2.70 ERA) Alabama – TBA

Watch or Listen

Roger Hoover (play-by-play) and Lance Cormier (analyst) have the call between No. 1 Arkansas and No. 25 Alabama 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 48-53 overall series record against Alabama, including a 17-27 record in games played in Tuscaloosa. Under head coach Dave Van Horn, the Hogs are 37-29 overall and 14-16 on the road in the series.

Since 2017, Arkansas is 12-7 overall against Alabama. The Razorbacks have won 10 of their last 13 regular-season weekend series against the Crimson Tide since the 2010 campaign, including four of their last six road weekend series.

Smith’s Strikeout Sprint

Arkansas ace Hagen Smith, slated to take the mound in Friday night’s series opener against Alabama, is 6-0 with a 1.76 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 41.0 innings over eight starts this season. Through four SEC starts on the mound, the reigning national pitcher of the month is 4-0 with a 1.50 ERA and a team-leading 43 strikeouts in a team-high 24.0 innings.

Entering Friday, Smith leads the nation in strikeouts per nine innings (18.2) and is ranked third nationally in strikeouts (83) and fourth in WHIP (0.83) and hits allowed per nine innings (4.4). With Smith’s help, the Arkansas pitching staff is ranked first nationally in ERA (2.56), hits allowed per nine innings (5.9), shutouts (6), strikeoutto- walk ratio (4.2), strikeouts per nine innings (13.1) and WHIP (1.01) entering Friday night’s series opener in Tuscaloosa.

Smith has recorded 282 career strikeouts in 190.0 innings of work. His 282 career punchouts are fourth on Arkansas’ career strikeouts list, and he is just one strike-

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out shy of matching David Walling (283) for third in program history.

Career Strikeouts

1. 345 – Nick Schmidt (2003-06) 2. 301 – Matt Carnes (1979-82) 3. 283 – David Walling (1998-99) 4. 282 – Hagen Smith (2022-present) 5. 261 – Scott Tabor (1979-82) 6. 244 – Blaine Knight (2016-18) 7. 232 – Kevin Kopps (2017-21)

It Just Means More Wins

Arkansas is 11-1 through 12 games in SEC play for the first time in program history. It marks the Razorbacks’ best 12game start in SEC play since joining the conference ahead of the 1992 season.

With its 11-1 SEC record, Arkansas has now started 8-4 or better through 12 games in SEC play for the seventh consecutive season (2017-present). It is the best stretch of starting 8-4 or better in SEC play by a team since LSU, led by the legendary Skip Bertman, accomplished the feat in eight consecutive seasons from 1991-98.

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