FAYETTEVILLE - Neither Arkansas nor Mississippi State ever quite compiled baseball seasons like they did in 2021.
Each start this third of 10 SEC baseball weekends with everything still out there to re-accomplish and then some starting tonight in Fayetteville.
Coach Dave Van Razorbacks, 19-4 overall and an SEC West leading 5-1, tonight, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon host Coach Chris Lemonis’ Mississippi State Bulldogs, 16-10, 3-3.
Game times at Baum-Walker Stadium are 6 Friday night televised on the SEC Network, 6:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
The Saturday and Sunday games are Internet video available on SEC+.
Though gone 10 times to the College World Series and winning SEC championships under Dave Van Horn and retired predecessor Norm DeBriyn, the Razorbacks won their first ever SEC Tournament last year to go with with winning the SEC Overall while winning every SEC series for the first time and ranking nationally No. 1 most of the season though nosed out of appearing in the College World Series by North Carolina State in the Super Regional.
Mississippi State, an SEC regular-season and SEC Tournament also-ran to Arkansas and swept by the Razorbacks in a 3-game series at Starkville, Miss, rebounded to win its Regional and Super Regional and advance to the College World Series and for the first time win it all in Omaha.
So while the Bulldogs seem an ordinary 3-3 in the losing 2 of 3 at Georgia and winning 2 of 3 in Starkville, over Alabama, Van Horn literally laughed off a reporter’s notion these Bulldogs seem shaky for a defending national champion.
“They had some rough days last year as you remember,” Van Horn said in an obvious reference to the Hogs sweeping in Starkville. “But it didn’t seem to bother them a bit. Obviously they were really good last year and they finished out the year unbelievably well. So (he chuckled at the mere thought) we’re definitely not looking past them. They are a great team.”
Each because of injuries lost great pitchers for the season,
Arkansas’ Peyton Pallette of Benton required season-ending surgery and Mississippi State lost sophomore star Landon Sims, but still field plenty of good arms.
Arkansas starts a solid SEC rotation of Connor Noland, 3-1, 3.41, Hagen Smith, 4-1,. 3.45 and Jaxon Wiggins, 4-0, 3.71 with freshman Brandon Tygart, 1-0, 1.59 and four saves, and Zebulon Vermillion, 2-0, 1.69 and a save, heading the bullpen.
Mississippi State counters with right-handers Preston Johnson, 2-1 3.41, Parker Stinnett 3-0 4.67 and Cade Smith RHP 4-1 2.91.
Top Bulldogs hitters include third baseman, Kamren James, hitting .340 three home runs, 14 RBI; left fielder Brad Cumbest, .316 seven home runs, 20 RBI; 20 designated hitter Hunter Hines .312 eight home runs 31 RBI; second baseman RJ Yeager, .293, six home runs, 22 RBI and right fielder Clark Kellum, .266, eight home runs and 26 RBI.
Catcher Michael Turner .369, four home runs and 25 RBI; right fielder Chris Lanzilli, .358, and third baseman Cayden Wallace of Greenbrier, .304, four home runs and 46 RBI, lead the Razorbacks.
Center fielder Braydon Webb, up to .242 after a hitless February and early March, has hit five home runs and knocked in 29 and was the most key hitter for Arkansas winning 2 of 3 SEC games last weekend at Missouri.
“He’s always been a really good defender and really good arm,” Van Horn said. “I just think that once he got over the (hitting) hump a little bit his confidence goes up. He got two big hits against Missouri that probably helped us win those two games. I know for sure one.”
Jace Bohrofen, a starting outfielder until injuring a shoulder during the pregame before playing Illinois-Chicago in the last nonconference weekend, has healed and is reactivated this weekend.
Zack Gregory has started in left with Webb in center and Lanzilli in right.
Bohrofen could figure as DH if Brady Slavens, a mainstay last year .284, 14 home runs and 63 RBI, continues slumps hitting only .187 with three home runs and 15 RBI.
“He’s getting extra work and he’s fighting it,” Van Horn said. “Whether he starts tomorrow or not we need him. For us to get back to where we need to be lineup wise, we need him to hit.”
