This use to not be that big of a deal, but since around 2000 Collegiate Baseball has became a big deal. In the State of Arkansas some would say since the addition of Dave Van Horn the Arkansas baseball program has became a really big deal around the state; especially with the state of basketball affairs some would say baseball has became the second most popular sport around The Hill. With all that said I will be bringing you weekly baseball updates on The Sports Blitz blog.
The Match-up: #13 Arkansas Razorbacks (12-3) come into Baton Rouge on a 4 game winning streak. Sweeping Wisconsin-Milwalkee over the weekend and splitting a pair in the midweek to South Dakota State. Arkansas comes into this weekend with a .288 team batting average lead by Sophomore third baseman Zack Cox with a .410 batting average; Zack is also bringing a 15 game hitting streak into the weekend series with LSU. Zack also is second on the team in RBI's with 18 respectively to Junior FirstBaseman Andy Wilkins with 20 RBI's. Andy is batting a cool .315 and leads the team with 5 home-runs and sporting a slugging % of .722 which ranks him amongst the best power hitters in the SEC. Since sophomore outfielder Collin Kuhn has taken the lead-off role, Arkansas' offensive numbers have dramatically improved. He has done a great job in the number one spot, batting .340 with an on-base % of .485 and 7 for 7 in stolen bases. Steadily improving freshman Matt Vinson has 2 triples and a home-run since being inserted in the starting lineup. Vinson ran a 4.5 forty while playing football at Alma high school and he is going to become a terror on the base-paths once his .188 average catches up with the rest of his game. Also you will notice that 6'3, 210 pound sophomore catcher James McCann, one of the teams captains this year, has increased his power output. He has already surpassed his RBI and home-run output from a year ago (14 and 4), and looks to be a major piece of the puzzle this season.
LSU comes into the weekend sporting a .331 batting average with 18 home-runs. Arkansas ranks #1 in the SEC in home-runs, but LSU ranks #4 in batting average. LSU has shown the ability to power the ball out of the yard with 18 homers of their own. LSU is led by sophomore first baseman Blake Dean with a .424 batting average with 4 home-runs and 22 RBIs. Dean has 6 doubles on the season as well. Much like his Razorback counter-part Andy Wilkins, Dean is an All-American. Dean was one of the team leaders as a freshman in LSU's national championship run last year. LSU has a stat that jumps off the page as one that Arkansas will have to be aware of this weekend. LSU leads the SEC with 8 triples, and many of those have came off of the bat of Leon Landry, who also posts a .396 batting average and a .623 slugging percentage.
Names that we will see this weekend that Arkansas will have to keep off the bases:Micah Gibbs .385 with 3 home-runs, and Mike Mahtook .380 and 2 home-runs.
In baseball you love the hitting but games are won with pitching (especially the college game) and this is an intriguing match-up. Arkansas has the leg up in this match-up. The Razorbacks sport a 2.73 team ERA with 144 strikeouts and just 30 walks. The weekend rotation for Arkansas has been very consistent thus far. Friday starter, senior right-hander Mike Bolsinger (2-0), brings a 3.38 ERA in 4 starts this season. Thus far this season Bolsinger has taken the ace role Dallas Kuechel held last season. Bolsinger has been Arkansas' grinder this year with 21.1 innings pitched. He has struck out 19 batters while only walking 5. Saturday starter Drew Smyly (2-0), was an important piece in the run to Omaha last year. Smyly leads the team in strikeouts with 33, however this year the red-shirt sophomore lefty has struggled with control at times walking 8 in 20 innings pitched. However, as far as "stuff" goes, this lefty has shown to be as overpowering at times as he has been erractic. Sunday will boast junior righty Brett Eibner (2-1) who sports an 1.23 ERA and brings a fastball that will run up in the mid 90s. At times he has been a solid, but he has been in trouble a few times. He hasn't stayed on the mound very much this year as far as innings pitched. Eibner is more known for his power at the plate than his power on the mound. He has improved his batting tremendously this year and is the strongest outfielders. Look for Eibner to bat after he is taken off the mound on Sunday.
Notables that will factor into the games this weekend: freshman right-hander DJ Baxendale (Sylvan Hills high school) he has became Arkansas' closer this year and the upside of this young man becoming dominant shows up more and more ever outing. Baxendale sports a 2.08 ERA and the young man is 6 for 6 in save appearances. Also, the improvement of Jeremy Heatly and the Geoffery Davenport, both are bidding to be the number one guy out of the pen. Davenport is second on the team in strikeouts and the lefty has been overpowering thus far. One other name that you could hear from this weekend is freshman Randall Fant. He has one start in the midweek win over South Dakota State and was very impressive showing a big league change-up that is highlighted by a 90+ MPH fastball. with no midweek game this week for the Razorbacks you should see a full compliment of arms for the Razorback bullpen.
LSU is on the other end of the spectrum as far as pitching. They rank 10th in the SEC with a 4.47 ERA with 112 SO's and 58 BB's thus far. Their number one starter Renando, who was their ace last year, has been out with an injury this year and he will not be availible this weekend. However; Jordan Rittner (2-1) brings a 3.32 ERA into the fold, with just 11 strikeouts. Austin Ross (2-0) will be another starter the Razorbacks will face this weekend. Ross sports a 4.57 ERA, but leads the team with 25 strikeouts. The other likely starter is Joey Bourgrouis (2-1) 4.74 with 16 strikeouts. The closer that was at times unhittable last year sophomore lefty Matty Ott leads the team with 6 Saves in 7 appearances and sports a 2.35 ERA. Arkansas will try to avoid the game ever getting to Ott.
Inside the numbers: Last 5 meetings dating back to last year- LSU has taken the last 4 in a row including 2 out of 3 at Baum, an SEC tournament game, and in the College World Series. Arkansas has a losing record in Baton Rouge dating back to 2004 when Arkansas swept LSU in what was a launching point to Omaha. Arkansas is tied in RBI's with 118 on the year. Arkansas leads the SEC in batters hit by pitches. Kuhn Leads the team in that category. Arkansas and LSU rank towards the top of the SEC in stolen bases with (26 and 30 respectively).
Possibly the key stat of this series and something that could be the series changer: fielding % LSU.977 and Arkansas .963 which ranks them (#3 and #7) in the conference.
Streaks: Both Cox and Dean have 15 game hitting streaks and are hitting well over .400 for the year.
Intangibles: LSU will be breaking in the new Alex Box stadium as far as conference goes and expect a big crowd. LSU is 13-2 and ranked #7; however they have not left Baton Rouge this season. Arkansas is 2-1 outside of Baum this year with a weekend series win at over the Cal Bears.
Opponents: The only common opponent that the two have faced off against is nationally ranked Kansas. LSU just went 1-2 over the weekend against Kansas. Arkansas took on Kansas on a Tuesday game at Baum and defeated the Jayhawks 15-3. Matching up the two teams and their schedules you would have to say at this point the Razorbacks have played a much tougher schedule against more quality opponents. LSU is a great team and this should be a great matchup in the college baseball world.
Likely Razorback Lineup
LF- #25 Collin Kuhn
3rd- #7 Zack Cox
1st- #17 Andy Wilkins
C-#27 James McCann
DH-#9 Monk Kreder
CF-#24 Brett Eibner
SS-#18 Tim Carver
2nd- #12 Bo Bigham
RF-#1 Matt Vinson
Rotation-
Fri-Mike Bolsinger
Sat- Drew Smyly
Sun-Brett Eibner
Prediction- 2-1 Arkansas series win.
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