#OmaHogs Set to Battle Tennessee
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Looking to capture a record-tying seventh straight SEC series win, the No. 20 Arkansas baseball team (29-18, 14-10) welcomes Tennessee (19-24, 7-17) town for the final regular season series of the year at Baum Stadium.
Tickets
Single game tickets to the series can be purchased by clicking here.
Follow Live
All three games will broadcasted live on SEC Network Plus and the WatchESPN App with Alex Perlman (PXP) and Troy Eklund (Analyst), while Phil Elson (PXP) and Rick Schaeffer (Analyst) will have the call on the IMG Razorback Sports Network.
Weekend Promotions
Friday
• Friday night fireworks after the game presented by Arvest Bank.
Saturday
• Senior day before first pitch
• Trading card packs to the first 1,000 fans.
• Pulled Pork Cook-Off at 4 p.m. (Tickets)
Sunday
• Commemorative baseball pin giveaway to the first 500 fans.
Probable Starters
Fri. | 6:35p | (ARK) RHP Trey Killian vs. (UT) LHP Andy Cox
Sat. | 6:05p | (ARK) RHP Dominic Taccolini vs. (UT) RHP Hunter Martin
Sun. | 12:05p | (ARK) RHP Keaton McKinney vs (UT) LHP Drake Owenby
Friday Probable Starter – RHP Trey Killian
Trey Killian turned in his fourth quality start of the year last week against Alabama, throwing 6.1 innings and tying his career-high with nine strikeouts to earn his second win of the year. He threw over 100 pitches for the fifth time in six starts and worked 6.0 innings or more for the fifth time in 2015. Killian has made 19 career starts in SEC play and allowed two earned runs or less in 11 of those 19 starts, including three times this season against No. 5 Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Alabama.
Saturday Probable Starter – RHP Dominic Taccolini
Dominic Taccolini struggled to find his command last week at Alabama and worked 4.0 innings, allowing three hits and two runs, while walking five and striking out six. He leads the team with six victories on the year and has six quality starts in 12 appearances this season. Taccolini has allowed three earned runs or less in 10 of his 12 starts this season and recorded 61 strikeouts in 65.0 innings of work.
Sunday Probable Starter – RHP Keaton McKinney
Keaton McKinney is emerging as one of the top freshman pitchers in the country after tossing a complete-game two-hit shutout last week at Alabama and earning SEC Pitcher of the Week honors. He is tied for the league lead with two complete-games and is the only freshman to record a complete-game this season. McKinney has not allowed an earned run over his last two SEC starts and has lowered his ERA to 3.06 on the year.
Leading Off
• For the first time this year, the Razorbacks appeared in all six major national polls this week, peaking at No. 20 in Baseball America and D1Baseball.
• Arkansas is the only team in the SEC to win six consecutive conference series this season, taking down Ole Miss, Auburn, Kentucky, No. 1 Texas A&M, Mississippi State and Alabama.
• The Razorbacks are currently in third place in the SEC West standings and the No. 5 seed in the SEC Tournament. Arkansas is one game back of Florida four the No. 4 seed and first-round bye in Hoover.
• Arkansas has come from behind in seven of its 13 conference wins this year, with four of those coming in the seventh inning or later.
• The Arkansas pitching staff has held opponents to two runs or less in five of the last seven games and has a 1.20 ERA in the last five contests, allowing six earned runs in 45.0 innings.
• The Razorbacks have jumped 47 points in the RPI rankings over the last three weeks, coming in at No. 37 after the three-game sweep of Alabama according to D1Baseball.com. Arkansas has also played the 20th toughest schedule in the country to date.
• Arkansas posted a 13-4 record during the month of April and has won 18 of its last 24 contests. Before the red hot stretch, The Razorbacks had lost 10 of its previous 12 games.
#BennyBaseball Bullets
• Is the first player in school history with 15 home runs and 20 stolen bases.
• Is one of only two players in the country with 10+ home runs and 20+ stolen bases.
Power
• Is second in the NCAA with 15 home runs on the year.
• Leads the SEC by 82 points with a .729 slugging percentage.
• Ranks fifth in the SEC with 46 RBI on the year (3 behind leader).
• Had a span of four home runs in six plate appearances against Mississippi Valley State and Kentucky.
Consistency
• Has reached base safely in 20 consecutive games.
• Has reached base in 23 of his last 33 plate appearances.
• Has at least one hit in 18 of the last 20 games.
• Leads the SEC with a .386 batting average.
• His .386 batting average would be the highest since 2011 when Zack Cox set the school record at .429.
• Ranks second in the SEC with a .488 on base percentage.
• Has 22 multi-hit games and 16 multi-RBI games this season.
Speed
• Ranks third in the SEC with 20 stolen bases on the year.
• Has eight stolen bases over the last 10 games.
• Leads the SEC with 121 total bases.
• Ranks third in the SEC with 48 runs scored. (Led team with 45 runs scored all of last year)
Series History
Arkansas leads the all-time series with Tennessee 30-25, including wins in 13 of the last 16 meetings. The Razorbacks have not dropped a series against the Volunteers since the 2005 season and have not lost a three-game set to Tennessee in Fayetteville since 1996. Arkansas is 15-9 all-time against the Vols at home.
Series Wins Piling Up
Arkansas is the only team in the SEC to win six straight SEC series as it looks to make history and win seven consecutive conference series this weekend. The Razorbacks have only won seven straight conference series twice in school history, both coming in the Southwest conference in 1979 and 1990.
A League of His Own
Andrew Benintendi is one of two power-five conference players to rank in the top 25 in the country in batting average and home runs, joining Wake Forest’s Will Craig.
A Golden Award
#BennyBaseball has been named one of 30 finalist for the Golden Spikes Award as the top amateur baseball player in the country. He was one of nine new players added to the list on May 7 and is one of seven candidates from the SEC up for the prestigious award.
Well Done, Guys
Four current Arkansas players will graduate this weekend, as Joe Serrano, Tyler Spoon, Krisjon Wilkerson, Jackson Lowery and Lance Phillips will all receive their diploma from the University of Arkansas. Current student assistants Jake Wise and Tim Carver will also graduate, while former players Cade Lynch and Geoffrey Davenport have completed their degrees.
Postseason Consistency
The Razorbacks are one of just seven teams in the country to advance to each of the last 13 NCAA Tournaments as they are on the brink of making it 14 straight during the 2015 season. Arkansas has appeared in six consecutive Regional Finals and has won 40 or more games five times in the last six years.
Jackson to Play for USA Baseball this Summer
Zach Jackson has accepted an invitation to join the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team this summer and will be the 13th Arkansas player to don the Red, White and Blue. Dave Van Horn served as the head coach last year, while Trey Killian was also selected to the team. “To get an invite to go play for your country and represent the USA against other countries around the world is something I’ve always dreamed of,” said Jackson. “It’s definitely an honor and humbling experience.”
McKinney Earns SEC Pitcher of the Week Honors
After throwing a complete-game two-hit shutout to cap a series sweep over Alabama, Arkansas right-handed pitcher Keaton McKinney earned SEC Pitcher of the Week honors. The true freshman dazzled, recording his fourth career victory and second complete-game win in his last four starts.
RPI Watch
Arkansas continues to move up the RPI ranks, jumping 11 more spots this week to No. 37 in the country according to D1Baseball.com. The Razorbacks have improved 47 spots over the last three weeks and played the 20th toughest schedule in the country to date.
Coming Up
Arkansas will cap the regular season next week, traveling to Creighton for a Tuesday night game in Omaha, before a Thursday-Saturday SEC series against the Georgia Bulldogs at Foley Field.
For more information on Arkansas baseball, follow @RazorbackBSB on Twitter.
