Mound words

Arkansas ace Blaine Knight (12-0, 2.84 ERA) is scheduled to square off against right-hander Nolan Kingham (7-4, 4.67) of Texas today at 1 p.m.

“I’m confident,” Knight said. “I’m going to make my pitches, they hit ‘em, and I’ve got a defense backing me up. I’ve got an offense that will put runs up. So I’m not really that worried about it.”

Texas second baseman Kody Clemens said Saturday morning the Longhorns would study Knight video more intensely that afternoon.

“I just know he can command every single one of his pitches,” Clemens said. “Yeah, he can put any pitch he wants anywhere. We know he’s going to be a strike thrower, and we’re going to put together good at-bats.”

Texas Coach David Pierce said he was 95 percent sure Kingham would start.

“We’re going to go over the scouting report today, but I just know they’re a good hitting team,” Kingham said on Saturday after the Longhorns’ practice at Creighton University.

Kingham said his game plan was “just pound the zone. Get early, weak contact and let my defense work.”

Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said Kingham has a good arm.

“He throws a good breaking ball,” Van Horn said. “When he’s on, he’s really good. He’s a typical right-hander. He’s going to come at you hard. His ball moves. He likes to throw that slider a little bit as well.”