Razorbacks set to open SEC series against Gators.
FAYETTEVILLE - Going into this huge SEC series starting tonight against the nationally No. 2 and reigning national champion Florida Gators (19-4, 2-1 SEC East), it seems the nationally No.4 Arkansas Razorbacks (16-5, 3-0 SEC West) lost short-term momentum but long term perhaps regained a pitcher midweek in Charlotte, N.C.
Arkansas, then nationally No.5, convincingly swept nationally No. 4 Kentucky by scores of 9-4, 14-2 and 16-6 in SEC play last weekend at Baum Stadium, but in Charlotte against the Charlotte 49ers of Conference USA, both teams lost Tuesday’s game to a not to be made up rainout then Arkansas lost Wednesday’s game 6-3.
However, in addition to freshman left fielder Heston Kjerstad hitting two home runs Wednesday, Arkansas junior right-handed pitcher Barrett Loseke, ineffective in most of his previous four appearances, handed off a 2-0 lead after striking out eight without a hit through a three-inning start.
“I thought he threw pretty good," Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. "He gave us a chance. We built up a 2-0 lead and should have had more. He did a good job for us."
By Sunday or sooner in Gainesville, Loseke could add relief depth in a battle of premier staffs with Arkansas’ team earned run average at 2.66 and Florida’s at 2.91.
Both teams for tonight’s 5:30 p.m. game, available on the Internet via SEC+ with all three games on the Razorbacks Radio Network, and Saturday’s 11 a.m. game on ESPN2 and Sunday’s 11 a.m. game on the SEC Network, start pitchers with eye-popping stats.
Arkansas tonight starts junior right-hander Blaine Knight of Bryant, 3-0, 1.30 ERA with 25 strikeouts and only five walks in 27 2/3 innings, followed Saturday by right-hander Isaiah Campbell, 2-2, 1.73 ERA with 27 strikeouts against 12 walks in 25 innings and a threehit victory through eight complete against hard-hitting Kentucky, and Sunday starts junior
lefty Kacey Murphy of Rogers, 3-0, 1.69 ERA with 16 strikeouts against three walks in 21 2/3 innings.
Sophomore lefty Matt Cronin, 2-0, 2.35 ERA and three saves, has been Arkansas’ most effective closer.
Coach Kevin O’Sullivan’s Gators counter tonight through Sunday starting exceptional right-handed starters Brady Singer, 5-0, 1.97 ERA with 32 strikeouts and five walks in 32 innings, Jackson Kowar, 3-1, 3.16 ERA with 32 strikeouts and 11 walks in 31 1/3 innings, and Tyler Dyson, 4-1, 1.48 ERA with 29 strikeouts and six walks for 30 1/3 innings.
Michael Byrne, the Gators’ right-handed closer, sports a 0.00 ERA and five saves through 16 2/3 innings, striking out 14 against two walks.
For pitching and defense, Florida always ranks near or at the top of the SEC, Van Horn asserts.
“What I know about Florida is they are Florida and what they have been the last five years,” Van Horn said. “They can really pitch, they can really field and now it seems they are hitting pretty good. So they are just a really, really good team.”
Hitting .294 as a team, the Gators start five .300 or better hitters, third baseman Jonathan India, designated hitter Nelson Maldonado, right fielder Wil Dalton catcher J.J. Schwarz, and second baseman Blake Reese, respectively hitting .397, .326, .322. .322 and .317.
The Gators have hit 36 home runs with Dalton, India and Schwarz clouting nine, eight and six.
Arkansas’ .321 team batting average and 41 home runs should have even Florida’s fine pitching staff taking notice, particularly after the Hogs hit 13 home runs among 49 hits scoring 39 runs in the three games against Kentucky.
Arkansas starts seven hitters batting over .300.