For the final weekend of the regular season, head coach Dave Van Horn is shaking up the weekend rotation for the first time all year.
The no. 4 Arkansas Razorbacks have played 13 weekend series in the 2022 season with the same weekend rotation of Connor Noland, Hagen Smith, and Jaxon Wiggins. As the Razorbacks travel to Alabama to face the Crimson Tide, one pitcher will have one extra day of rest while one has been removed from the rotation altogether.
For Thursday’s opener, [autotag]Will McEntire[/autotag] will get his first start in SEC play. McEntire has been used mostly as a midweek starter, going 1-1 with four starts. Recently, he has been used in relief. He made his first appearance in a weekend series in Arkansas’ 7-4 win over Auburn on May 8, and grabbed a three-inning save against Vanderbilt on May 14.
The usual Friday starter, [autotag]Connor Noland[/autotag], will be moved to game two of the series to allow him a full week between starts. Noland has not had the best luck over the last five SEC starts, as he has either taken a loss or left the mound without recording a decision. Head coach [autotag]Dave Van Horn[/autotag] says that Noland is staying positive, but he looks to change his approach in the Alabama series and beyond.
“He feels healthy, no issues there physically,” says Van Horn. “Just pitch to contact more, don’t worry about getting strikeouts. I don’t think that he is, that’s just what we try to tell him, “hey, just let them hit it. We will field it.” Hopefully he will be good this weekend.”
The only pitcher to remain in his role will be [autotag]Jaxon Wiggins[/autotag], who will close out the series on Saturday afternoon. Wiggins pitched well enough to get the win last Sunday at home against Vanderbilt, striking out eight batters over 4.1 innings of work. But he allowed two earned runs while the Commodores shut down any chance of run support, which set him up for the loss.
Freshman [autotag]Hagan Smith[/autotag] will be out of the rotation this weekend. No reason has been given for Smith’s removal, but according to Whole Hog Sports, it could be because of his struggles working deep into games. Over his last five starts, Smith has only lasted six innings or more twice.
Arkansas begins their week-long stay in Alabama on Thursday night, when they face Alabama at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. CDT.