Tag: Hagen Smith

Arkansas bounces back, beats Southeastern Louisiana in Game Two

Kent State transfer Michael Turner hit a two-run shot in the seventh to lead Arkansas over Southeastern Louisiana.

Arkansas baseball evened its series against Southeastern Louisiana in game one of a doubleheader on Saturday, 4-2.

The Lions tied the game at 2 when they plated a pair of runs in the sixth on a home run by Preston Faulkner. Arkansas answered with a homer itself when Michael Turner sent a two-run shot over the fence to provide the winning edge.

Freshman left-hander Hagen Smith was excellent against for the Diamond Hogs, throwing seven innings while only giving up two hits and three walks and striking out nine Southeastern Louisiana hitters. Zebulon Vermillion and Brady Tygart finished the final two innings to shut things down.

Turner, a transfer from Kent State, was moved up to the 3-hole and went 2 for 4 with three RBI and the homer. His other knock-in came in the third to open the scoring when he doubled to left-center to score Zack Gregory.

The Razorbacks and Lions were set to get in game three of the series later Saturday afternoon in advance of the rain expected on Sunday.

Arkansas baseball doubleheader vs Southeastern Louisiana: How to watch, stream, listen

Arkansas and Southeastern Louisiana will play two on Saturday after the Lions took the first game.

Arkansas and Southeastern Louisiana will play a doubleheader on Saturday from Baum-Walker Stadium.

The series was originally scheduled for Friday through Sunday, but with rain expected on Sunday, the teams decided to sneak in two games Saturday, instead. Both games will be nine innings.

First pitch from Fayetteville is scheduled for noon with the second game coming 45 minutes after the conclusion of the first.

Freshman lefthander Hagen Smith is slated to go for Arkansas in the first game. Jaxon Wiggins is scheduled for the second game.

Southeastern Louisiana won the first game of the set on Friday after scoring seven runs in the sixth inning, 7-3.

How to Watch

When: Noon

Where: Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville

Traditional TV: SEC Network+

Online live stream: ESPN.com/watch

For those seeking the radio broadcast of the game, you can find the complete list below. In Northwest Arkansas, KQSM 92.1 will be the broadcaster in 2022.

Arkansas radio affiliates

Batesville, KWOZ-FM, 103.3

Camden, KCXY-FM, 95.3

Crossett, KAGH-FM, 104.9

Crossett, KAGH-AM, 800

DeQueen, KDQN-FM, 92.1

DeWitt, KDEW-FM, 97.3

El Dorado, KMRX-FM, 96.1

Fayetteville, KQSM-FM, 92.1

Forrest City, KBFC-FM, 93.5

Fort Smith, KERX-FM, 95.3

Glenwood, KHGZ-FM, 98.9

Glenwood, KHGZ-AM, 670

Hot Springs, KTTG-FM, 96.3

Jonesboro, KEGI-FM, 100.5

Little Rock, KABZ-FM, 103.7

Magnolia, KZHE-FM, 100.5

Marshall, KBCN-FM, 104.3

Mena, KTTG-FM, 96.3

Mena, KENA-FM, 104.1

Monticello, KGPQ-FM, 99.9

Morrilton, KCON-FM, 99.3

Mountain Home, KOMT-FM, 93.5

Ozark, KDYN-FM, 96.7

Ozark, KDYN-AM, 1540

Searcy, KRZS-FM, 99.1

Texarkana, KKTK-AM, 1400

Wynne, KWYN-FM, 92.5

SABR Prattling – Week 1

In this space each week we will take a look at the numbers. What do the analytics say? Who got lucky? Who hit into bad luck over and over again? Baseball is a game told in numbers. Much like notes on a page of sheet music, they provide the roadmap. The game is the jam session that spits out the notes. And we’re the rock writers who decipher them and talk about what it all means. 

The Arkansas Razorbacks won two out of three games this weekend against Illinois State. This was a predictable result, as most teams – even the elite ones – can drop a game on any given weekend against a competent opponent. Just take a look around the weekend scoreboard, and you will see this to be true.

But the Hogs lost their first game. Suddenly a 2-1 weekend record feels more like relief than expectation. Many Hogs fans were in near panic mode after the first game. That’s a result of high expectations. It’s also the result of sequencing, which is but one small part of the great SABR experiment.

In this space each week we will take a look at the numbers. What do the analytics say? Who got lucky? Who hit into bad luck over and over again? Baseball is a game told in numbers. Much like notes on a page of sheet music, they provide the roadmap. The game is the jam session that spits out the notes. And we’re the rock writers who decipher them and talk about what it all means.

Pitcher of the Game: Hagen Smith

Hagen Smith, the freshman lefty lived up to the hype and then some. He scattered five hits over six innings without yielding a run. The long, tall Texan struck out five and walked only one.

This one was a no-brainer.

Hagen Smith, the freshman lefty lived up to the hype and then some. He scattered five hits over six innings without yielding a run. The long, tall Texan struck out five and walked only one. Even more impressive than the numbers, Smith looked like he belonged out there. 

Fans will quickly fall in love with the kid’s easy, smooth delivery. He throws from a three-quarter slot, a la Chris Sale. But his delivery is far less violent than the Boston lefty’s, putting less stress on that golden left arm. Smith was a joy to watch today.

Bullpen Notes:

  • Mark Adamiak threw his first pitches of the year. He was questionable this weekend after taking a Peyton Stovall line drive off the shin last week during a scrimmage. Adamiak showed the power we expected but lacked some command, giving up 3 hits and a walk in 1 1/3 IP.
  • Evan Taylor made a nice audition for Mr. Matchup Lefty. He faced one batter, striking out Jake McCaw.
  • Heston Tole earned the rare 4-run save after entering with two runners on in the eighth inning. Tole ended up giving up a run on one hit, though he looked pretty sharp in doing so. Tole is one to watch this season. He could be a useful swingman out of the bullpen.

Hagen Smith BRILLIANT in Arkansas debut as Diamond Hogs beat Illinois State

Hagen Smith, a freshman from Texas, looked every bit the part of SEC weekend starter in his collegiate debut.

Hagen Smith was rated as the top left-handed high-school pitcher in the country last year. When it became clear the MLB draft was out of the picture, Arkansas as all too happy to receive his services.

Saturday showed why.

Smith pitched six innings of shutout ball in his collegiate debut and preseason All-American Robert Moore knocked in three runs as Arkansas bounced back from its season-opening loss to Illinois State on Saturday, 5-1.

Smith was dynamite from the word go, striking out three of the first six batters he faced, eliminating all of them. Even by the sixth, his final inning, on 77 pitches, he still retired the Redbirds in order, 1-2-3.

By that point he had already been staked to a 4-0 lead. Moore had hit a solo home run in the first and Cayden Wallace had an RBI single in the second for the early Arkansas runs. Moore blasted a two-run home double in the fifth to give the Diamond Hogs even more breathing room. Moore and Wallace each went 2 for 4 on the day with Wallace also cranking a double.

But the game belonged to the southpaw pitcher as coach Dave Van Horn completely re-organizes his weekend rotation from last year. Smith is almost assuredly going to be in it.

Kent State transfer Michael Turner had an RBI double in the eighth for Arkansas’ final run. Connor Olson singled home Illinois State’s lone run in the ninth.

Arkansas baseball vs Illinois State Game 2: How to watch, stream, listen

After dropping a heartbreaker in the opener, Arkansas seeks to bounce back Saturday against Illinois State.

Things didn’t begin the way Arkansas baseball would have wanted Friday.

The Diamond Hogs dropped their season opener for the first time in forever as Illinois State shocked the home crowd at Baum-Walker Stadium, 3-2. Saturday, though, is a new day.

Game 2 between the Redbirds and Razorbacks is scheduled to start noon.

The Diamond Hogs are ranked No. 2 in the nation by D1Baseball.com and in the Top 10 in five other polls. The Collegiate Baseball poll is the outlier as it has Arkansas ranked No. 20 in the nation..

Illinois State was picked to finish third in the Missouri Valley Conference, a league that occasionally gets two teams in the NCAA Tournament. Dallas Baptist, a team Arkansas has seen recently in the Tournament, was a unanimous first-place selection.

Left-handed freshman Hagen Smith is set to make his debut for the Diamond Hogs. He was ranked as the No. 1 southpaw in the Class of 2021.

How to Watch

When: 12 p.m.

Where: Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville

Traditional TV: SEC Network+

Online live stream: ESPN.com/watch

For those seeking the radio broadcast of the game, you can find the complete list below. In Northwest Arkansas, KQSM 92.1 will be the broadcaster in 2022.

Arkansas radio affiliates

Batesville, KWOZ-FM, 103.3

Camden, KCXY-FM, 95.3

Crossett, KAGH-FM, 104.9

Crossett, KAGH-AM, 800

DeQueen, KDQN-FM, 92.1

DeWitt, KDEW-FM, 97.3

El Dorado, KMRX-FM, 96.1

Fayetteville, KQSM-FM, 92.1

Forrest City, KBFC-FM, 93.5

Fort Smith, KERX-FM, 95.3

Glenwood, KHGZ-FM, 98.9

Glenwood, KHGZ-AM, 670

Hot Springs, KTTG-FM, 96.3

Jonesboro, KEGI-FM, 100.5

Little Rock, KABZ-FM, 103.7

Magnolia, KZHE-FM, 100.5

Marshall, KBCN-FM, 104.3

Mena, KTTG-FM, 96.3

Mena, KENA-FM, 104.1

Monticello, KGPQ-FM, 99.9

Morrilton, KCON-FM, 99.3

Mountain Home, KOMT-FM, 93.5

Ozark, KDYN-FM, 96.7

Ozark, KDYN-AM, 1540

Searcy, KRZS-FM, 99.1

Texarkana, KKTK-AM, 1400

Wynne, KWYN-FM, 92.5

Pitching Matchups for Hogs v. Redbirds

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 time of year that can only mean one thing: college baseball season is upon us. 

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.