The Hogs on the Diamond are starting their 2023 season against the future members of the SEC, Texas Longhorns.
The Longhorns are the first of three Big 12 teams Arkansas will face this weekend in the College Baseball Showdown. The schools were former members of the Southwest Conference, but in two seasons, we’ll see them renew their rivalry as SEC conference-mate
Overall, the Longhorns have dominated the rivalry against Arkansas with a record of 76-38, the first meeting in 1902. In the last 20 years, the Razorbacks have shifted their power.
The last time the two schools met in the College Baseball Showdown was in 2021, Razorbacks winning 4-0. In 2018, the Razorbacks defeated the Longhorns in the College World Series.
Lucas Gordon is expected to be the starter for the Longhorns. He was 7-2 in 2018, with 3.18 ERA, but the Longhorns are in rebuild mode. They lost six players to the MLB from last season’s College World Series team.
The Hogs are also in reset mode but have more experience in the lineup, led by preseason All-American Peyton Stovall. Another preseason All-American, Hagen Smith, is listed to take the Razorbacks’ mound, also finishing 7-2 in 2022.
While this is an excellent opportunity to renew the rivalry before the Longhorns join the SEC, this should be an easy victory for the Hogs.
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