Tag: Baum Stadium

Arkansas host Eastern Illinois for a weekend series at Baum Walker Stadium

Next for the Diamond Hogs are Ohio Valley Conference representers, Eastern Illinois. 

Next for the Diamond Hogs are Ohio Valley Conference representers, Eastern Illinois.

The Diamond Hogs lead the all-time series 2-32. They beat EIU in the first meeting back in 1984. The Panthers got their first win over the Hogs in 1988 but wouldn’t win another game until 2016.

E. Wayne said this is a series the Razorbacks should sweep, but that was before he watched the four-game roller coaster the Hogs were on. After allowing 18 runs, scoring 18 runs, and struggling in the home opener, Eastern Illinois isn’t just an easy opponent.

EIU started their season off with a 3-0 series sweep of Florida A&M in Tallahassee. It marked the first time since 1988 that the Panthers have swept a team during the opening weekend of the NCAA season.

A three-game sweep for the Diamond Hogs would better indicate how the team will look in the ladder months. This is a chance for the team to find momentum. Dominate performances are a must;

Hagen Smith is back on the mound for the first time since he opened the season against Texas. Smith threw five scoreless innings and eight strikeouts but did not end up with the victory. The Panthers are only batting .262 and have an on-base percentage of .396. Smith could find a rhythm against this lineup.

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Another Top 10 for Arkansas Baseball

Preseason baseball polls continue to roll in, and the OmaHogs continue to show how much respect the program has around the country. Despite losing loads of talent College Baseball Nation ranks Arkansas at #4 in its 2022 Preseason Top 50. 

Preseason baseball polls continue to roll in, and the OmaHogs continue to show how much respect the program has around the country. Despite losing Golden Spikes winner Kevin Kopps, conference Friday night starter Patrick Wicklander, and mainstays Casey Opitz and Christian Franklin, College Baseball Nation ranks Arkansas at #4 in its 2022 Preseason Top 50.

The Hogs already have been pegged #9 from Perfect Game and down at #20 from Collegiate Baseball News. College baseball has many groups providing rankings throughout the season, but the three garnering the most attention are USA Today Coaches Poll, D1Baseball.com, and Baseball America. None of those three have released their preseason rankings just yet.

The Hogs kickoff the 2022 season just 40 days from now on Friday, February 18 when they take on Illinois State at Baum Walker Stadium in Fayetteville.

Preseason All-America Accolades for Arkansas Duo

Both Peyton Pallette (JR, RHP) and Robert Moore (JR, 2B) have been named preseason All-American by Perfect Game.

At the time of this posting, parts of Arkansas are under a winter weather advisory. Every point north of Interstate 40 in the state has a chance of seeing sleet and/or snow. And it’s safe to bet at least one athlete is at the JB & Johnelle Hunt Baseball Center and simply doesn’t care.

Maybe it’s junior 2B Robert Moore. Or perhaps it’s junior RHP Peyton Pallette. Both of them have been named preseason All-American by Perfect Game. And both are probably a little ticked off about being on the third team and not the first or second.

Pallette is ranked #5 and Moore #8 by Baseball America among MLB draft prospects in college this spring. According to that publication Pallette is the best right-handed pitcher available. And depending on where overall #1 college prospect Jace Jung (Texas Tech) plays this spring – either 2B or 3B –  Big Game Bob is at worst 2nd team All-American.

What’s more, can you imagine the chips on the shoulders of Cayden Wallace and Jace Bohrofen? Or Jalen Battles? Or Jaxon Wiggins? Not even one was acknowledged on the preseason list.

The only thing more dangerous than a group this talented is a group this talented with something to prove.

First pitch at Baum Stadium is 45 days away.