A Look at the Razorbacks
5/30/2012 11:22:00 AM | Baseball
(Tickets, schedule, live stats, live audio)
Sam Houston State and the University of Arkansas will meet for the first team on the baseball diamond when the two squads face off in the first game of the 2012 NCAA Baseball Championships Houston Regional Friday at Reckling Park.
The Razorbacks enter the game ranked in all four major national polls with a high ranking of No. 19. Arkansas is making its 26th NCAA Regional appearance. The Hogs have earned four trips to the Super Regional and made six College World Series appearances.
"Arkansas holds a distinguished baseball heritage and, with Dave Van Horn, is a well-coached team," Sam Houston head coach David Pierce said. "They're a lot like Rice with their strength being strong pitching and good defense."
The Razorbacks stand 39-19 for the season and were the runners-up in the Southeastern Conference West Division with a 16-14 league mark.
"The SEC is one of the top baseball conferences in the nation," Pierce said. "Arkansas is going to be a tough opponent."
The Bearkats and the Hogs had two common opponents this season. Arkansas defeated Northwestern State 8-7 and 6-2 and downed Stephen F. Austin 8-3 and 4-3 in non-conference play. The Bearkats swept the Demons and took two-of-three against the Lumberjacks.
Arkansas closed the regular season by winning its last four games, including a three-game sweep at Tennessee. The Razorbacks lost both games at the SEC post-season tournament.
The Razorbacks are hitting .279 as a team. On the mound, the Arkansas pitching staff has a team ERA of 2.99, which stands third in the SEC.
Three Arkansas players earned All-Southeastern Conference honors. Matt Reynolds was a first team All-SEC third baseman and Bo Bigham was a second team selection at second base. First baseman Dominic Ficociello and Reynolds were named to the SEC All-Defensive team.
Reynolds (.340), Ficociello (.313) and Bigham (.282) also are three of the Razorbacks' top four hitters.
D. J. Baxendale will be the starting pitcher for Arkansas Friday against Sam Houston. He brings a 7-4 season record and a 3.02 earned run average into the game. Baxendale has 20 walks and 79 strike outs for the season in 86 innings of work. He has held opponents to a .235 batting average.
