Written by: Martha Swearingen
Fayetteville, Ark. – No. 21 Arkansas travels to Florida
After defeating Oral Roberts in a one-hit game Tuesday night, No. 21 Arkansas (29-12, 9-9 Southeastern Conference) will be taking a road trip this weekend to face conference opponent No. 2 Florida.
The Razorbacks’ 6-1 victory Tuesday improves the Hogs to 29-12 this season. Redshirt senior shortstop Tim Carver led Arkansas with two home runs.
Arkansas dropped to No. 21 this week after losing the series 2-1 against Ole Miss last weekend. The Razorbacks lost 2-8 on Friday and 0-1 on Saturday, but won the third game 11-3. Arkansas was trailing 6-1 in the fourth inning Friday when the game had to be postponed to due rain. The game resumed with a doubleheader on Saturday.
“We played an outstanding game (Sunday),” coach Dave Van Horn said. “It started with the pitching. Offense, we jumped out into a big lead. We got to run our offense, move some guys around.”
The Gators (31-10, 11-7) enter the weekend series with the Razorbacks after falling 5-3 to in-state rival USF Tuesday night.
Florida has not announced this weekend’s starting pitchers, but last weekend sophomore right-hander Jonathon Crawford started on Friday against the Georgia Bulldogs while junior left-hander Brian Johnson began game two on Saturday and right-handed junior Hudson Randall opened Sunday’s finale.
“They have so much experience,” Van Horn said. “Basically they have seven or eight starting positions back, and basically the whole pitching staff and they added a few high draft choices.”
The Gators are led by senior outfielder Daniel Pigott with a .348 batting average and 55 hits this season. He has hit five home runs and has 28 RBIs.
Junior catcher Mike Zunino is hitting a .338, but has 12 home runs so far this season and 43 RBI.
“They are still probably the team to beat as far as winning a national championship,” Van Horn said.
On the mound, Arkansas will start sophomore right-hander Ryne Stanek Friday and junior right-hander DJ Baxendale on Sunday. Saturday’s starter will be determined after Friday’s game.
The Hogs are led this season by sophomore first baseman Dominic Ficociello with a .347 batting average and four home runs with 29 RBIs.
The Razorbacks’ series with the Gators will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday while game three is set to begin at 2:30 p.m.
Hogs Head to Gainesville for Key Match-Up This Weekend
