Hogs host LSU for 3-game series starting tonight
FAYETTEVILLE -- No. 1 Arkansas remains at home for a three-game series against No. 8 LSU beginning Thursday night at 6 p.m.
Arkansas (20-3, 5-1) and LSU (20-6, 2-4) always provide a great series regardless of records. Arkansas swept Missouri and took two of three against Auburn on the road. LSU lost a series 2-1 on the road at Mississippi State and then fell to Florida two of three in Baton Rouge.
On Tuesday night, Arkansas was taking an 11-0 run-rule win over Little Rock. LSU beat Southeastern Louisiana 8-4 in Baton Rouge on Tuesday. LSU is 3-2 away from home. Arkansas is 16-1 at Baum-walker Stadium.
One of the hottest hitters entering this weekend’s series is Arkansas shortstop Wehiwa Aloy. After struggling at the plate earlier in season, Aloy is hitting .273 with five home runs and 24 runs batted in. He was 3 for 3 against Little Rock including a grand slam.
He said he never played LSU while at Sacramento State last season, but is ready to face them now. “Can’t wait,” Aloy said. In 11 games this season, second baseman Peyton Stovall is hitting .310 with three home runs and plated 12 runners. Stovall is from Haughton (La.) High School so he’s very familiar with LSU who recruited him out of high school.
“Obviously, growing I would watch LSU all the time,” Stovall said. “They’ve got a really good team. They’re well coached. Their pitching staff is also really good as well. It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be an electric environment. There’s going to be a lot of people there. It’s going to be great weather. So we’re looking forward to it. It’s going to be super fun with them coming here. I just think that we shouldn’t make the game bigger than it is. Just take it one game at a time. Take it one pitch at a time. That’s kind of what we’ve done all year. We’re looking forward to it
LSU ace Luke Holman (5-1, 0.78) has 56 strikeouts in 34.2 innings. He will face Arkansas ace Hagen Smith (4-0, 1.24) who has fanned 62 hitters in just 29 innings. Stovall is familiar with Holman, but has confidence in Smith.
“Yeah, super good pitcher,” Stovall said. “Obviously his numbers are really good this year. It’s going to be a really fun game, we’re looking forward to it. With Hagen on the mound and him, and it’s good weather, like I said, it’s going to be fun. So, we’re looking forward to it. It’s going to be a challenge, but we’re up for it.”
Catcher Hayden Travinski leads LSU hitting .333 and has seven home runs while knocking in 27. First baseman Jared Jones leads the team with 10 home runs. Third baseman Tommy White is hitting .321 and has seven home runs. Left fielder Mac Bingham is hitting .301 with five home runs and 17 runs batted in.
Thursday’s game starts at 6 p.m. and will be on ESPN2. The SEC Network will broadcast Friday’s game at 7 p.m. On Saturday, the first pitch is slated for 2 p.m. on the SEC Network+.