I came out and said in this blog before the baseball season started that Arkansas would win the national championship. This Hog team has done absolutely nothing to put a damper on those expectations. Right now sitting at 28-6 (9-3 in the SEC) the Hogs have won every SEC series but one at LSU. Arkansas handled LSU on Friday and blew a six run lead in the seventh inning to lose on Saturday. They could not muster up any momentum after they lost on Saturday only to lose on Sunday. Since then Arkansas has won 15 of 16 with the only loss coming to a powerful Kentucky team.
This team is better than the team that went to Omaha last season. Why? They are better in every phase of the game. Two things that stick out on this team is: they are not striking out as much which makes their batting averages better. Number two they are pitching better than last season.
Many Razorback fans down through the years have grumbled about Arkansas batting averages not being on par with other SEC teams. There was some validity to that. This season almost every starter is hitting over .300 with Zach Cox and Travis Sample hitting over .400, although Sample does not have enough at bats to qualify as a leader in the SEC. The power numbers are better Arkansas currently ranks third in the SEC in batting average, slugging percentage, on base percentage, and homeruns (currently one behind Kentucky). They rank second in hits runs scored and runs batted in. Those are great numbers. Brett Eibner, Andy Wilkins, and Zach Cox make up what some call the most powerful trio in college baseball. Not to mention Colin Kuhn has been playing off the charts. Monk Kreder was brought in to hit homeruns and he has not done that but he has hit over .300 and is on a 16 game hitting streak. With the addition of Sample to this lineup it becomes one of the best in college baseball.
Arkansas' pitching has been better than many thought it would be this season. Arkansas ranks third in the SEC in earned run average, number two in opponents batting average, and the number one spot in the most important category which is wins. Arkansas' starting pitchers are getting the job done especially Drew Smyly. Smyly slated to be Arkansas' third starter before the season has locked down the number one spot with his 1.99 earned run average which ranks fifth in the SEC. Brett Eibner is coming off of his best outing of the year versus Mississippi State. Randall Fant came in and took the Bulldogs down only allowing one earned run, leading Arkansas to a 13 to three victory. He then came home to get in trouble and will have to sit out this weekends series versus Georgia. The move of Mike Bolsinger, Arkansas' number one starter to start the year, back to the bullpen may prove to be Arkansas' biggest move. Bolsinger was the Hogs bullpen ace last season. He pitched pretty well as a starter, but he seems to be more comfortable coming out of the pen. D.J. Baxendale has been a shut down closer all year long. Even though, hitters seem to be catching up to him he seems to have the stuff and the toughness to be a great closer in the SEC. The bull pen has had early struggles, but it seems they are all coming together right now to be a very formidable pitching staff.
Right now Arkansas is in position to host a regional and super regional at Baum Stadium, ranking in the top five in most polls and being rated number two in the ratings percentage index (RPI). Although, baseball is a funny game. Anything can happen, but if the Hogs continue to play as they have been a trip to Omaha is in the future. The question is can they go there to win it?
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