With just one regular-season SEC series left, eyes now head toward to the postseason for the Arkansas baseball team.
Well, probably not the team itself, but its fans and collected media.
The Razorbacks beat South Carolina on Sunday, 5-1, to take the series two games to one. In doing so, Arkansas put itself into first-place in conference. Not just the Western Division, but the SEC as a whole. A sweep against Vanderbilt in the final series would lock things up.
Of course, a sweep against a perennial national powerhouse on the road is a tough ask. And even if the Diamond Hogs don’t finish as the regular-season champions, they won’t finish worse than fourth in the SEC. That designation will almost certainly be enough to earn a national seed when the NCAA Tournament is announced in a few weeks.
What’s scariest for opposing teams is that the Razorbacks are getting healthier.
Tavian Josenberger returned for the series against South Carolina and hit lead-off all weekend. Brady Tygart, a preseason All-American, pitched three innings and struck out four while only allowing one base-runner in the second game of the weekend.
Second baseman Peyton Stovall and outfielder Jared Wegner are still out, but coach Dave Van Horn anticipated the two should be good to go for the SEC Tournament barring any setbacks. Wegner was the team’s best hitter, alongside Jace Bohrofen, until he was hurt. Stovall provides Arkansas’ most significant experience at the high levels come tournament time.
So while a sweep would be dynamite for the Razorbacks, it isn’t necessary when it comes to projecting how the postseason will turn. The Diamond Hogs are looking scary, regardless.
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