2013 Razorback Baseball Schedule Announced
Junior Outfielder Jacob Morris watches the ball during game four of the Cardinal-White series Wednesday. White leads the series 3-1, and game five will be played today at 3 p.m. (Photo by Shelby Gill)
The 2013 Razorback baseball schedule was announced Wednesday. The schedule features 34 regular season home games, including 17 of the first 21 games of the season.
The Hogs will play 22 games against teams that made the NCAA Tournament in 2012, including matchups with New Mexico, Oklahoma and Missouri State.
“I think it’s a very competitive schedule,” head coach Dave Van Horn said.
The Razorbacks open the season with an eight-game homestand beginning Friday, Feb. 15. The Hogs host Western Illinois for a three-game weekend series to open the season.
Arkansas will then host the University of New Orleans for a midweek series followed by a weekend series against Evansville.
The Razorbacks will travel to Surprise, Ariz., to compete in the Coca-Cola Classic, hosted by Arizona State. Arkansas will play four games in the tournament between Feb. 28 and March 3.
The Hogs return home for a four-game series March 7-10 against San Diego State, which is coached by Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn.
“We have a tough early-season tournament at Arizona State where we’ll face some quality competition, and the next week we come home and play a good San Diego State team for four games,” Van Horn said. “We’ll know a lot more about where we stand after those eight games.”
The Razorbacks will play a midweek series against Alabama A&M March 12 and 13 before opening Southeastern Conference play at home against the Ole Miss Rebels.
In addition to Ole Miss, Arkansas will face conference foes Mississippi State, LSU, Texas A&M and Tennessee at Baum Stadium.
“I think our home conference schedule is about as good as it gets,” Van Horn said. “All five teams coming to Baum Stadium are quality opponents. As far as the fans are concerned, this should be a real popular home conference schedule.”
The Razorback’s road SEC schedule includes South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky and Auburn.
Arkansas will play one game in Central Arkansas at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock. The game is part of a two-game midweek series against Mississippi Valley State, the first of which will be played at Baum Stadium.
“I’m glad it worked out for us to be able to play a game in Central Arkansas this season,” Van Horn said. “It gives the fans in that area of the state a chance to see us play without having to drive too far. There’s been a great response with a packed stadium each of the last three years.”
The 2013 SEC Baseball Tournament will be played May 21-26 at Regions Park in Hoover, Ala., and the NCAA Tournament begins May 30.
