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Game One - Instant Analysis
Weekend Preview - ON DECK - ARKANSAS
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A new day and a new opportunity. The Horns have not yet lost a series in SEC play. After getting beat 9-0 in game one, the Horns find themselves in same place they did after the start to the LSU series, down 1-0.
All season long, the Horns have played to their own standard and not worried about what the scoreboard says. On the road in Fayetteville, that mentality will certainly be put to the test as the Horns will look to even the series up and punch back as they have done so all season long. LHP Luke Harrison is on the mound for the Horns and they will need him to give the Horns 5 solid innings of work. After that depending upon what the game score is, I fully expect it to be the deadly combo of Max Grubbs and Dylan Volantis.
A lot of chirping from other fan bases that are hoping for a Texas collapse, but know this about the Horns. They simply do not listen. This is one of the most mentality resilient teams I have seen and they are simply built different when it comes to their mindset.
Regardless of the outcome, it does not change the trajectory of the season or alter what they have done to this point. It sounds contrite, but it is really hard to win on the road in the SEC. Last weekend, 7 of the 8 series were won by the home team and on average, the home team wins the majority of the time in conference play. So buckle in and enjoy the ride!
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#1 Texas Longhorns at #11 Arkansas Razorbacks
Date: May 2
Time: Fri at 7pm
Where: Fayetteville, Arkansas (Baum-Walker Stadium)
TV: Thur – Fri – SEC Network
Series History:
- First Met: 1902
- Last Met: 2023
- Last Texas Victory: 2020 – Texas last beat Arkansas during the ill-fated 2020
- All-Time Series Record: 76-39
- Texas has lost the last two games to Arkansas, both in Arlington (2021 and 2023) and are 2-7 overall in the past 9 games against Arkansas
- Away Record: 24-18
- The last time Texas won in Fayetteville was back in 1991
- Arkansas is picked to finish 4th out of 16 teams
- 2024 Season: 44-16 (20-10 SEC) – Arkansas hosted a Regional in 2024, winning the first game against Southeast Missouri (SEMO), but then dropped their next two games to Kansas State and SEMO to get knocked out of the NCAA Tournament
Records:
Arkansas Razorbacks: 38-9 (15-7 SEC)
Texas Longhorns: 38-6 (19-3 SEC)
Prediction:
- Texas loses the series 1-2
- On the season, I am 31-12
Pitching Matchups:
Fri – LHP Luke Harrison (4-0, 2.81 ERA) v. RHP Gage Wood (0-0, 4.35 ERA)
- Working back from an injury so Wood will likely only pitch 50-60 pitches
- FB that sits 94-96, low 80s curveball, and mid 80s slider
Arkansas Bullpen:
- Gabe Gaeckle (4-1, 5.56 ERA, 11 apps, 9 starts, 45.1 IP)
- Aiden Jimenez (4-1, 0.60 ERA, 14 apps, 1 save, 28.2 IP)
- Dylan Carter (4-0, 2.60 ERA, 19 apps, 27.2 IP)
- Will McEntire (1-0, 3.20 ERA, 14 apps, 1 save, 19.2 IP)
- Christian Foutch (1-0, 4.40 ERA, 14 apps, 3 saves, 14.1 IP)
Arkansas Offensive Leaders:
- Kuhio Aloy (.371 BA, 11 HR, 59 RBI, .641 SLG%, .446 OB%)
- Wehiwa Aloy (.370 BA, 17 HR, 50 RBI, .724 SLG%, .453 OB%, 6-8 SB)
- Cam Kozeal (.365 BA, 10 HR, 49 RBI, .647 SLG%, .413 OB%, 2-3 SB)
- Charles Davalan (.365 BA, 12 HR, 45 RBI, .604 SLG%, .446 OB%, 6-8 SB)
STARTING LINEUPS:
Texas -
| 1 | dh | 5 Ethan Mendoza | R | .347 | |
| 2 | c | 6 Rylan Galvan | R | .323 | |
| 3 | 1b | 10 Kimble Schuessler | R | .322 | |
| 4 | 2b | 24 Adrian Rodriguez | B | .303 | |
| 5 | ss | 1 Jalin Flores | R | .270 | |
| 6 | cf | 8 Will Gasparino | R | .265 | |
| 7 | 3b | 31 Casey Borba | R | .235 | |
| 8 | rf | 43 Tommy Farmer IV | R | .263 | |
| 9 | lf | 55 Jonah Williams | L | .438 | |
| 10 | p | 53 Luke Harrison | L | - |
Arkansas -
| 1 | lf | 24 Charles Davalan | L | .355 | |
| 2 | ss | 9 Wehiwa Aloy | R | .369 | |
| 3 | dh | 25 Kuhio Aloy | R | .368 | |
| 4 | 2b | 8 Cam Kozeal | L | .363 | |
| 5 | rf | 28 Carson Boles | R | .347 | |
| 6 | 3b | 10 Brent Iredale | R | .295 | |
| 7 | c | 27 Ryder Helfrick | R | .296 | |
| 8 | 1b | 1 Rocco Peppi | R | .244 | |
| 9 | cf | 4 Justin Thomas Jr. | R | .279 |
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