After a stretch of unseasonably warm temperatures, Old Man Winter has once again gotten comfortable in Arkansas. Temperatures will bottom out in the teens across the Ozarks this weekend. At this point on the calendar that can only mean one thing: college baseball season is upon us.
The Arkansas Razorbacks will host the Illinois State Redbirds for a three-game set this weekend at Baum-Walker Stadium.
The Redbirds have been picked by league coaches to finish top half of the Missouri Valley Conference. Their starting first baseman, Jake McCaw, and starting centerfielder, Ryan Cermak, were both voted to the preseason all-league team. In his press conference yesterday, though, it was the Illinois State pitching staff that Arkansas’s skipper Dave Van Horn mentioned. Compared to the Hogs, DVH says ISU looks to be more settled on the mound.
You look at Illinois State, they got two of their starters back and their closer’s now their number three starter. So they know where they’re at.
You can watch Van Horn’s full Thursday press conference here.