No. 2 Arkansas heads to Nashville looking for first road series win at Vanderbilt since 2010

NASHVILLE – Second-ranked Arkansas (23-3, 5-1 SEC) heads off to No. 14 Vanderbilt (20-5, 4-2 SEC) this weekend for a three-game set from March 28-30 seeking its first road series win at Hawkins Field in Nashville, Tenn., since 2010.

First pitch in the series opener between the Razorbacks and Commodores is 7 p.m. Friday, March 28, on SEC Network with Tom Hart (play-by-play) and Chris Burke (analyst) on the call. Saturday and Sunday’s games will stream on SEC Network+ at 2 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively, with Kevin Ingram (play-by-play) and Andrew Harris (analyst) on the call.

Arkansas has won each of its first two SEC weekend series to begin the season, starting with a road series win against nationally ranked Ole Miss on SEC Opening Weekend. The Hogs then swept the Gamecocks last weekend inside the friendly confines of Baum-Walker Stadium to clinch their 11th consecutive SEC home series win.

Schedule

Friday, March 28

#2 Arkansas vs. #14 Vanderbilt – 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 29

#2 Arkansas vs. #14 Vanderbilt – 2 p.m

Sunday, March 30

#2 Arkansas vs. #14 Vanderbilt – 1 p.m.

On the Mound

Friday, March 28

Arkansas – LHP Zach Root (3-1, 4.02 ERA)

Vanderbilt – JD Thompson (2-1, 4.06 ERA)

Saturday, March 29

Arkansas – RHP Gabe Gaeckle (1-0, 6.57 ERA)

Vanderbilt – RHP Cody Bowker (2-1, 2.64 ERA)

Sunday, March 30

Arkansas – LHP Landon Beidelschies (3-0, 3.76 ERA)

Vanderbilt – RHP Connor Fennell (2-0, 1.93 ERA)

Tune In

Tom Hart (play-by-play) and Chris Burke (analyst) will have the call for Friday’s series opener on SEC Network, while Kevin Ingram (play-by-play) and Andrew Harris (analyst) will handle Saturday and Sunday’s games on SEC Network+.

The entire weekend series between the Hogs and Commodores can also be heard on the Razorback Sports Network from Learfield, including locally in Fayetteville on 92.1 FM or through the Razorback app, with Phil Elson on the call.

History Lesson

Arkansas is 35-33 all-time against Vanderbilt, including an even 15-15 record in games played in Nashville.  Under Dave Van Horn, the Razorbacks are 22-26 overall and 8-12 in Nashville against the Commodores. Van Horn and Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin entered the league together in 2003, and they are two of only four coaches in college baseball history, along with Mississippi State’s Ron Polk and Ole Miss’ Mike Bianco, to win 900-plus games at an SEC program.

Arkansas enters this weekend seeking its first series win against Vanderbilt since 2017, and its first road series win against the Commodores since 2010. This weekend marks only the Hogs’ fourth trip to Hawkins Field since last winning a series at the venue in 2010. Since then, Arkansas has lost series at Vanderbilt in 2015 (0-3), 2019 (1-2) and 2023 (1-2).

What’s At Stake

With a series win this weekend in Nashville, Arkansas would start SEC play with three straight series wins for the seventh time since joining the league in 1992. The Hogs accomplished the feat in 2007, 2009, 2017, 2021, 2022 and 2024.

With a series sweep this weekend against the Commodores, the Hogs would improve to 8-1 through the first nine games of SEC play for just the third time under head coach Dave Van Horn. Arkansas accomplished the feat in 2009 and 2024.

Stacking Wins

Prior to its extra-inning midweek loss against Missouri State Tuesday, Arkansas was off to a 23-2 overall record through its first 25 games of the year, marking its best 25-game start to a campaign in program history. The Hogs had improved to 23-2 overall following last weekend’s SEC series sweep against South Carolina to set a program record for most wins through its first 25 games of a season. The 1982 team began 22-2-1, while the 1996 and 2012 teams both started 22-3.

It Just Means More Wins

Arkansas, off to a 5-1 start in conference play, has won 18 or more SEC games in seven consecutive seasons. LSU is the only other team in SEC history to record at least seven consecutive seasons of 18-plus SEC victories (10 from 1996-2005).

Arkansas has started 8-4 or better in SEC play in seven consecutive seasons (2017-9, 2022-24). It represents the best stretch of starting 8-4 or better in SEC play by a team since LSU did so in eight consecutive seasons from 1991-98.

Additionally, Arkansas has finished with 20 or more SEC victories in a season five times in program history, including four times under Dave Van Horn. The Razorbacks reached the 20-win mark in SEC play in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024 for the first time in program history. Arkansas, which has reached the 20-win mark in SEC play in four of the last five full seasons, is the first team since LSU between 1994-97 to post four 20-win SEC campaigns in five years.

Photo by John D. James