Everything you need to know for Hogs-Red Raiders
WHEN: Tuesday, 6 p.m.
WHERE: TD Ameritrade Park (24,000), Omaha, Neb.
RECORDS: Arkansas 45-19; Texas Tech 45-18.
COACHES: Arkansas: Dave Van Horn, 640-362 in 16th season at Arkansas and 960-521 in 24th season overall in Division I; Texas Tech: Tim Tadlock, 239-130 in sixth season at Texas Tech and overall in Division I.
SERIES: Arkansas leads 45-14.
LAST MEETING: Arkansas defeated Texas Tech 5-1 on April 24 in Fayetteville.
RADIO: ESPN Arkansas 95.3 FM in the River Valley, 96.3 FM in Hot Springs and western Arkansas and 104.3 FM in Harrison-Mountain Home.
TELEVISION: The game will be televised by ESPN and streamed on the ESPN app and ESPN3.com.
ANNOUNCERS: Karl Ravech (play-by-play), Kyle Peterson (commentary), Eduardo Perez (commentary) and Laura Rutledge (field).
LIKELY PITCHING MATCHUP: Arkansas, LHP Kacey Murphy (8-5, 3.12 ERA); Texas Tech, RHP Caleb Killian (9-2, 3.04 ERA).
WEATHER: According to the National Weather Service, there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms Tuesday in Omaha.
TEAM COMPARISON
ERA: Arkansas 3.57; Texas Tech 4.38.
Earned Runs Per Game: Arkansas 7.10; Texas Tech 7.83.
Batting Average: Arkansas .302; Texas Tech .311.
Opponent Batting Average: Arkansas .237; Texas Tech .243.
Fielding Percentage: Arkansas .972; Texas Tech .972.
NOTABLE:
• Neither team will be eliminated with a loss. The winner will play Friday night, needing one win to advance to the national championship series. The loser will play either Texas or Florida in an elimination game Thursday
• Texas Tech is 3-6 and Arkansas is 9-2 this season against common opponents – Texas, Florida, Dallas Baptist and Kentucky
• The Red Raiders and Razorbacks both enter Tuesday’s game with a 6-1 record in the NCAA postseason. Both teams swept their home regionals, then won two of three games in home super regionals. Texas Tech defeated Duke 6-2 last Monday to advance to the College World Series for the third time in five seasons
• Texas Tech ranks top 10 nationally in team batting average (.311), doubles (139), triples (24), walks (347), home runs (82), on-base percentage (.420), runs per game (8.2) and slugging percentage (.510)
• Texas Tech’s Gabe Holt enters Tuesday’s game on a 15-game hit streak. Holt was a Freshman All-America selection at second base, along with Arkansas third baseman Casey Martin and Arkansas outfielder Heston Kjerstad.
Kim advances to weekend play at Walmart NWA Championship
ROGERS — Arkansas senior-to-be Dylan Kim fired a bogey-free 6-under 65 to advance through the Monday qualifier and into the weekend field at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G.
Kim’s 65 tied one other player, an LPGA Tour professional, for the top spot with both players moving on to play on Friday and Saturday.
She joins fellow senior-to-be Maria Fassi who earned a sponsor’s exemption and #ProHogs Stacy Lewis and Gabriela Lopez who are LPGA Tour members.
From Dylan Kim
I played well today. I hit a lot of greens and putted well and that always makes for a good round. This is one of the better rounds that I have had in a while and it feels great to do it at home. This is a really cool experience for me. I get to stay in my own apartment and I hope that one of my teammates will caddy for me this week.
From Arkansas coach Shauna Taylor
Dylan is just a tremendous player. She’s so prepared and works her tail off and is deserving of a good outcome today. It was fantastic to see her play well. Our players have the dream of playing on the next level and what a tremendous opportunity to come out here and do that on one of our home golf courses.
Kim opened her day on the back nine and turned 4-under after a great start. She picked up her first birdie on No. 12 after hitting a long tee shoot on the par 4, 394-yard hole. She hit her second shot close to the pin and drained the putt for the birdie.
She picked up her second and third birdies on consecutive holes on Nos. 15 and 16 and birdied No. 18 before making the turn. It was another good tee shot for Kim followed by a strong second shot to the uphill green in front of the grandstands.
Kim added birdies on Nos. 2 and 7 shooting 2-under on the front nine to advance to the weekend tournament.
Former Razorback Summar Roachell and recently graduated Razorback Alana Uriell tied for seventh overall with 2-under 69s. #ProHog Emily Tubert was tied for 12th with an even-par 71, followed by Razorback senior-to-be Kaylee Benton who carded a 74 to tie for 21st. Benton had fellow Razorback Mason Overstreet on the bag for her on Monday.
NOTES
• Dylan Kim’s 6-under 65 is the second-best score posted by a Razorback (current or former) during this event. It is second to Alana Uriell’s 64 in 2016.
• Dylan Kim is the seventh Razorback player to advance out of the Monday qualifier.
• Four current and/or former Razorbacks in the tournament field is the second-most in a single year. Arkansas had five players compete on the weekend in 2016 and 2017.
ESPN says Hogs have sixth toughest three-game stretch
With the start of the college football season a little over two months away, Arkansas has made one Top 10 list.
ESPN’s Chris Low put together teams with the 10 toughest three-game stretches in all of college football for 2018 and the Razorbacks made the list … at No. 6.
Sept. 22 at Auburn, Sept. 29 vs. Texas A&M, Oct. 6 vs. Alabama
Any stretch that includes both Alabama and Auburn in a span of three weeks is never for the faint of heart. Both the Crimson Tide and Tigers will again be loaded on defense this season, and with first-year coach Chad Morris taking on a major rebuilding job at Arkansas, finding a way to even get to 20 points against Alabama and Auburn will be a chore for the Hogs, who were 1-7 in the SEC last season. Sandwiched between the Auburn and Alabama games is a home date against No. 23 Texas A&M, which has won six in a row over Arkansas, with three of the past four being overtime games.
The good news for Hog fans is that’s the roughest three-game stretch in the entire season. It comes after opening with three non-conference opponents. Eastern Illinois, Colorado State and North Texas aren’t SEC teams, although the Mean Green was finally respectable last season.
Some think the game in the second week against the Rams is a trap game, but the reality is they lost their best offensive players and have as many question marks as anyone.
The Hogs’ final three-game stretch against LSU, Mississippi State and Missouri features all-new offensive coordinators. LSU could easily by 4-5 by then, a week after playing Alabama. Who knows about the Bulldogs and Missouri’s new offensive coordinator is learning the offense from the quarterback.
Ah, yes, the joys of summer college football talk.
Four Razorbacks set to compete in USA Championships
FAYETTEVILLE —With the NCAA season completed and behind them, four members of the Arkansas men’s track & field team will pursue success on the national stage at the 2018 USATF Outdoor Championships June 21-24 in Des Moines, Iowa.
Date/Time: Thursday, June 21 | Friday, June 22 | Saturday, June 23 | Sunday, June 24
Venue: Drake University (Drake Stadium)
Important Links: Live Results | Start Lists
Broadcast Schedule: NBC Sports Gold
Hosted by Drake University, the four-day event will see the top athletes from around the country vying for a USATF Championship. With the next IAAF World Championships slated to be held in Doha, Qatar Sept. 28-Oct. 6, 2019, there are no Team USA spots up for grabs and there will be no advancement past the USATF Championship meet.
Current Razorbacks traveling to Iowa includes Kenzo Cotton (100-meters, 200-meters), Obi Igbokwe (200-meters, 400-meters), Derek Jacobus (Decathlon), and Larry Donald (110-meter hurdles). The four current Hogs will be joined by six #ProHogs including Tyson Gay (100-meters), Andrew Irwin (Pole Vault), Stanley Kebenei (Steeplechase), Frankline Tonui (Steeplechase), Jarrion Lawson (100-meters, 200-meters), Marqueze Washington (100-meters, 200-meters, 400-meters).
Events to Watch
Arkansas’ speed will be on full display this week with four entries in the 100-meters, four entries in the 200-meters, and a Razorback duo in the 400-meters. Cotton was a finalist at 200-meters during last year’s USATF meet, while Razorback alums Stanley Kebenei (3K Steeple) and Andrew Irwin (Pole Vault) each finished second in their respective events to earn spots on Team USA and competed at the 2017 IAAF World Championships.
Current | Pro Match-Ups
- 100-meters: Kenzo Cotton | Tyson Gay | Jarrion Lawson | Marqueze Washington. Strongest PR – Gay, 9.69 (2009)
- 200-meters: Kenzo Cotton | Marqueze Washington | Obi Igbokwe | Jarrion Lawson. Strongest PR – Gay, 20.17 (2016)
- 400-meters: Obi Igbokwe | Marqueze Washington. Strongest PR – Igbokwe, 44.94 (2018)
- 3,000-meter steeplechase: Stanley Kebenei | Frankline Tonui. Strongest PR – Kebenei, 8:08.30 (2017)
Arkansas’ USATF Event Schedule
Thursday, June 21
Running Events:
3:05 PM – Men’s 400-meters hurdles First-Round (L. Donald)
5:05 PM – Men’s 400-meters First-Round (O. Igbokwe, M. Washington)
6:10 PM – Men’s 100-meters First-Round (K. Cotton, J. Lawson, M. Washington, T. Gay)
Decathlon:
1:00 PM – Decathlon 100-meters (D. Jacobus)
1:55 PM – Decathlon Long Jump (D. Jacobus)
2:55 PM – Decathlon Shot Put (D. Jacobus)
4:10 PM – Decathlon High Jump (D. Jacobus)
6:40 PM – Decathlon 400-meters (D. Jacobus)
Friday, June 22
Running Events:
5:10 PM – Men’s 400-meter hurdles Semifinal
5:50 PM – Men’s 100-meters Semifinal
6:20 PM – Men’s 400-meters Semifinal
7:30 PM – Men’s 100-meters Final
Decathlon:
11:30 AM – Decathlon 110-meter hurdles (D. Jacobus)
12:30 PM – Decathlon Discus Throw (D. Jacobus)
3:00 PM – Decathlon Pole Vault (D. Jacobus)
4:30 PM – Decathlon Javelin Throw (D. Jacobus)
6:35 PM – Decathlon 1,500-meters (D. Jacobus)
Saturday, June 23
Running Events:
1:10 PM – Men’s 200-meters First-Round (K. Cotton, O. Igbokwe, J. Lawson, M. Washington)
2:35 PM – Men’s 110-meter hurdles First-Round (L. Donald)
3:36 PM – Men’s 400-meter hurdles Final
4:30 PM – Men’s 400-meters Final
Field Events:
1:30 PM – Men’s Pole Vault (A. Irwin)
Sunday, June 24
Running Events:
2:00 PM – Men’s 200-meters Semifinal
2:30 PM – Men’s 110-meter hurdles Semifinal
3:55 PM – Men’s 3,000-meter Steeplechase (S. Kebenei, F. Tonui)
4:10 PM – Men’s 200-meters Final
4:52 PM – Men’s 110-meter hurdles Final
Also competing this weekend will be Kemar Mowatt who will run at the Jamaican Trials in the 400-meter hurdles, and Clive Pullen who will compete in the triple jump at the same meet.
Date/Time: Thursday, June 21 | Friday, June 22
Venue: Kingston, Jamacia | Independence Park (National Stadium)
Important Links: Live Results
Mowatt enters the meet with a season-best time of 48.83 seconds set at Hayward Field during the final of the 400-meter hurdles at the NCAA Championships a few weeks ago in Eugene, Ore. Mowatt set the program record with his time of 48.49 during last year’s NCAA Championships and went on to finish fourth at the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London, England following a silver medal performance at the Jamaican championships last year. Pullen enters the meet boasting a season-best of 16.25m (53′-3.75″) set during the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games held at Carrara Stadium in Queensland, Australia.
Thursday, June 21
5:32 p.m. – Triple Jump (C. Pullen)
6:20 p.m. – 400-meter hurdles Prelims (K. Mowatt)
Friday, June 22
7:52 p.m. – 400-meter hurdles Final
Italicized events require qualification.
Championships in USA, Jamaica goal for some Hogs
FAYETTEVILLE —With the collegiate season completed and behind them, six members of the Arkansas women’s track and field team will pursue success on the national stage at the 2018 USATF Outdoor Championships June 21-24 in Des Moines, Iowa.
Date/Time: Thursday, June 21 | Friday, June 22 | Saturday, June 23 | Sunday, June 24
Venue: Drake University (Drake Stadium)
Important Links: Live Results | Start Lists
Broadcast Schedule: NBC Sports Gold
Hosted by Drake University, the four-day event will see the top athletes from around the country vying for a USATF Championship.
With the next IAAF World Championships slated to be held in Doha, Qatar Sept. 28-Oct. 6, 2019, there are no Team USA spots up for grabs and there will be no advancement past the USATF Championship meet.
Current Razorbacks traveling to Iowa include Taliyah Brooks (Long Jump, 100-meter hurdles), Jada Baylark (100-meters), Kiara Parker (100-meters), Nikki Hiltz (1,500-meters), Tori Hoggard (Pole Vault), and Lexi Jacobus (Pole Vault). They will be joined in competition by six ProHogs.
The veteran Razorback group will be headlined by Olympic veterans Sandi Morris (Pole Vault), and Chrishuna Williams (800-meters), as well as #ProHogs Jessica Kamilos (3,000-meter Steeplechase), Alex Gochenour (Heptathlon), Stephanie Brown (1,500-meters), and Daina Harper (400-meters).
Top-Ranked Razorbacks
A 2016 silver medalist at the Rio Olympic Games, Morris heads into the pole vault competition as the top entry with her 2018 best clearance of 4.95m (16′-2.75″) from the IAAF World Indoor meet this past March in Birmingham, Great Britain. Morris also carries an outdoor season-best into the meet from Drake Relays where she won her third-consecutive Drake Relays pole vault title with a meet record-setting clearance of 4.88m/16′-0″.
Morris became the first athlete in Drake Relays history to clear 16-feet in the women’s vault.
Current | Pro Matchups
- 100-meters: Jada Baylark | Kiara Parker – Strongest PR – Baylark, 11.04 (2018)
- 1,500-meters: Nikki Hiltz | Stephanie Brown. Strongest PR – Brown, 4:06.71 (2018)
- Pole Vault: Lexi Jacobus | Tori Hoggard | Sandi Morris. Strongest PR – Morris, 5.00m/16′-4.75″ (2016)
Arkansas’ USATF Event Schedule
Thursday, June 21
1:50 p.m. – 3,000-meter steeplechase First-Round (J. Kamilos)
2:20 p.m. – 800-meters First-Round (C. Williams)
3:35 p.m. – 1,500-meters First-Round (N. Hiltz, S. Brown)
4:40 p.m. – 400-meters First-Round (D. Harper)
5:45 p.m. – 100-meters First-Round (J. Baylark, K. Parker)
Friday, June 22
3:50 p.m. – 100-meter hurdles First-Round (T. Brooks)
5:30 p.m. – 100-meters Semifinal
6:05 p.m. – 400-meters Semifinal
6:50 p.m. – 800-meters Semifinal
7:22 p.m. – 100-meters Final
Saturday, June 23
2:15 p.m. – Long Jump (T. Brooks)
2:20 p.m. – 100-meter hurdles Semifinal
3:20 p.m. – 3,000-meter steeplechase Final
3:46 p.m. – 1,500-meters Final
4:08 p.m. – 400-meters Final
4:52 p.m. – 100-meter hurdles Final
Sunday, June 24
1:55 p.m. – Pole Vault Finals (S. Morris, L. Jacobus, T. Hoggard)
3:04 p.m. – 800-meters Final
Italicized events require qualification.
Also competing this weekend will be Janeek Brown who will run at the Jamaican Trials in the 100-meter hurdles.
Date/Time: Saturday, June 23
Venue: Kingston, Jamacia | Independence Park (National Stadium)
Important Links: Live Results
Brown enters the meet with a season-best and personal best time of 12.80 seconds set at Hayward Field during the prelims of the 100-meter hurdles at the NCAA Championships a few weeks ago in Eugene, Ore. Brown set the program record with her time and went on to earn All-American honors in the event finishing fifth to wrap up her freshman campaign for the Razorbacks.
Saturday, June 23
10:25 a.m. – 100-meter hurdles Prelims (J. Brown)
6:30 p.m. – 100-meter hurdles Final
Italicized events require qualification.
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Monday
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Van Horn, players look back on beating Texas in CWS
© Video from NCAA
Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn was joined by players Luke Bonfield, Blaine Knight and Heston Kjerstad after the 11-5 win over the Longhorns to start strong at the College World Series.
Longhorns’ coach, players talk about 11-5 loss to Hogs
© Video from NCAA
Texas coach David Pierce is joined by his players after falling to Arkansas 11-5 in their first game at the College World Series on Sunday afternoon.
Razorbacks open CWS with whopping 11-5 over Texas
OMAHA, Neb. — Arkansas made it look easy opening the College World Series on Sunday afternoon against Texas.
But it took awhile.
Thanks to a rain delay of nearly three hours, the Razorbacks had an eight-run sixth inning that stretched across the rain delay and pulled away for an 11-5 win.
The Hogs will now face the winner of the Florida-Texas Tech game in the winner’s brack Tuesday at 6 p.m.
In that sixth inning, the first 10 batters reached base — five before and five after the delay. Following a homer by Luke Bonfield, Jax Biggers and Eric Cole drew bases-loaded walks to stretch Arkansas’ lead to 5-2 before lightning and rain moved into the area.
When they started again, the Hogs picked up right where they left off. Casey Martin hit the first pitch he saw for an RBI single and Heston Kjerstad followed with a two-run single.
After Bonfield was hit by a pitch to load the bases again, Dominic Fletcher drove in two more runs with a single and Carson Shaddy capped the inning with an RBI single of his own.
Although Barrett Loseke threw one inning before the delay and recorded two more outs when play resumed, the large lead allowed Arkansas to save its other two relievers, Jake Reindl and Matt Cronin.
Kole Ramage, Bryce Bonnin and Cody Scroggins combined to give up three earned runs over the final 2.1 innings.
Both starting pitchers went five innings, with Blaine Knight improving to 13-0 after allowing only two earned runs on four hits and one walk. He tied a single-season record with the 13 victories, matching totals by Rich Erwin and Steve Krueger in 1979 and 1980, respectively.
Nolan Kingham was far less effective for the Longhorns. He was charged with five earned runs, giving up nine hits and one walk.
It didn’t take long for Arkansas to take the lead. Following a perfect first inning by Knight, Eric Cole doubled to lead off the home half and then scored on an RBI single by Kjerstad.
Texas answered in the third inning, with Tate Shaw leading off with a triple and then scoring on a groundout by Ryan Reynolds.
In the fifth, the Longhorns used some small ball to take the lead. Masen Hibbeler hit a sharp grounder, but Jax Biggers bobbled it and it was called an infield single. Shaw followed with a bunt single and Reynolds moved them up with a sacrifice bunt.
A sacrifice fly by David Hamilton gave Texas a 2-1 advantage, but the Razorbacks regained the lead the next half inning on Bonfield’s home run.
’Horns hatred, coach’s son offer just part of game
With Arkansas facing the Texas Longhorns in Omaha, it’s still fascinating to see the level of hatred some in this state have for the burnt orange.
As Dave Van Horn said in the pre-College World Series press conference Friday, it’s really more of a big deal for fans over the age of 50. It’s probably more like 40, but he’s not completely off base there.
Let’s face it, the two teams have met just five times since 1991 when the Razorbacks fled the Southwest Conference for the SEC. In that time frame, the Hogs are 3-2, winning both of the bowl games where they met.
In the interest of fairness, the Longhorns had zero interest in playing in both of those games.
The hatred in the old SWC days crossed into all sports. Yes, even baseball.
Growing up in Arkansas, the hatred for the Longhorns was always fascinating. Going to Texas for summers and holidays I learned early on that not everyone in that state was a Longhorns’ fan.
Living in the Dallas area in the 1980’s and 1990’s, it was pretty much understood Oklahoma State and Texas A&M graduates worked for Oklahoma and Texas graduates who borrowed money from SMU graduates. There were (and probably still are) more Arkansas alumni in Dallas-Fort Worth than Longhorns.
Even when the two teams met in every sport annually, it was always a bigger deal for the folks in Arkansas than Texas, even the Longhorns’ fans. In Austin, the Aggies and Sooners were always considerably bigger rivalries than the Hogs.
It became a rivalry because Texas was THE big dog in the old SWC in football. Actually, the fact was Longhorns’ football was only dominating in the 1960’s and pretty much just slightly better than average most of the time.
Texas had the second best winning percentage in college football in the 1960’s. Alabama was first. Arkansas was third.
During that 10-year period, Alabama beat Arkansas the only time they met and lost to Texas in the Orange Bowl, which allowed Hog fans to claim an off-brand version of the national championship for the 1964 season.
Over that decade, the Hogs were 4-6 against Texas on the football field.
Of course, many in Arkansas think they were hosed by officials’ calls in the 1962 loss (7-3) and in 1969 (yeah, that 15-14 haunting loss).
There were other big games in other sports, but in both Arkansas and Texas, football is the biggest sport. It’s also the only sport for many fans.
All of that’s why it’s still a big deal.
Hogs offer Morris’ son
With over 130 campers at the Razorbacks’ Elite QB/WR camp this week, there were offers made to Highland Park quarterback Chandler Morris and Morrilton quarterback Jacolby Criswell.
Both are 2020 recruits that had strong showings at the camp.
After Morris posted on Twitter about receiving an offer, it didn’t take long for some fans to start talking about a bad idea, considering he is the son of Arkansas coach Chad Morris.
Relax, folks. It’s just an offer to a 2020 prospect.
And they have over 100 offers out to those prospects. Even if every one of them wants to sign, they can only take a maximum of 25. It’s all in the numbers and that’s what Chad Morris knows.
They aren’t going to get every offer and over the next two years some players may not develop and that offer will quietly be pulled back.
But it’s all part of the game in college football these days.
