With 13 straight wins on the register, the Arkansas baseball is clearly living up to its lofty preseason expectations.
The Razorbacks swept Auburn at Baum-Walker Stadium over the weekend. A 5-0, three-hitter was the capper on Sunday, a victory that provided Arkansas a gaudy 16-1 record in Fayetteville. It also boosted the Diamond Hogs three spots in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
A new-look lineup, which was a modest question entering the season, has been the catalyst. Arkansas is 15th in Division I with 17 home runs this year, 14th in slugging percentage, 31st in on-base percentage and 28th in runs. For the record, there are 295 teams in DI ball.
Jace Bohrofen, who served last year as the team’s fourth outfielder, has shined in a starting role. He’s hitting .436, good for 46th individually in the land. Creighton transfer and fellow outfielder Jared Wegner is raking, too, slugging .839, 39th in Division I. Wegner is also tied for 13th with eight homers.
Arkansas’ pitching has improved, too, after a slow start and injuries. Hagen Smith, the team’s ace, has a 1.17 earned-run average with 34 strikeouts in 23 innings. Hunter Hollan and Will McEntire, the team’s other two primary starters, have 2.36 and 3.71 ERAs, as well.
The Razorbacks have a midweek game against Southeast Missouri on Tuesday then head to Baton Rouge on Friday for a three-game set against No. 1 LSU.
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