Hogs Travel to Florida
Fresh off a 6-1 win Tuesday against Oral Roberts, No. 21 Arkansas will face No. 2 Florida on the road this weekend.
The Razorbacks (29-12, 9-9 Southeastern Conference) have won two consecutive games, but have lost two consecutive SEC series.
Arkansas dropped to No. 21 this week after losing a series at Ole Miss over the weekend.
The Razorbacks 8-2 and 1-0 Friday and Saturday, but won the third game 11-3. Arkansas was trailing 6-1 in the fourth inning Friday when the game had to be postponed to due rain. The game resumed with a doubleheader on Saturday.
“We played an outstanding game (Sunday),” coach Dave Van Horn said. “It started with the pitching. Offense, we jumped out into a big lead. We got to run our offense, move some guys around.”
The Gators (31-10, 11-7) enter the weekend series with the Razorbacks after falling 5-3 to in-state rival South Florida on Tuesday night.
Sophomore right-hander Jonathon Crawford (4-1, 3.86 ERA) will start Friday for the Gators, junior left-hander Brian Johnson (5-2, 4.04) start Saturday and junior right-hander Hudson Randall (3-1, 3.52) will start Sunday.
“They have so much experience,” Van Horn said. “Basically they have seven or eight starting positions back, and basically the whole pitching staff and they added a few high draft choices.”
The Gators are led at the plate by senior outfielder Daniel Pigott, who has a .348 batting average, five home runs and 28 RBIs.
Junior catcher Mike Zunino is hitting .338 with has 12 home and 43 RBI.
“They are still probably the team to beat as far as winning a national championship,” Van Horn said.
On the mound, Arkansas will start sophomore right-hander Ryne Stanek (6-2, 2.30) Friday and junior right-hander DJ Baxendale (6-2, 3.78) Sunday. The Saturday starter will be determined after the Friday game.
