Arkansas
#2 Arkansas Closes Out Midweek Slate with Two-Game Series against Missouri State
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 2 Arkansas (37-7) closes out the midweek portion of its schedule against longtime foe Missouri State (18-24) with a two-game set at Baum-Walker Stadium. First pitch in the opener between the Razorbacks and Bears is 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, on SEC Network+ with Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Troy Eklund (analyst) on the call.
With a midweek series sweep against Missouri State, Arkansas can finish unbeaten in midweek contests during the regular season for the first time since 2005, head coach Dave Van Horn’s third year at the helm of the program. That season, the Razorbacks went a perfect 9-0 in midweek games, including a pair of midweek wins against the Bears.
Schedule
Tuesday, April 30
Missouri State vs. #2 Arkansas – 6:30 p.m. – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats
Wednesday, May 1
Missouri State vs. #2 Arkansas – 4 p.m. – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats
On the Mound
Tuesday, April 30
Missouri State – LHP Brendan Beaver (2-2, 8.67 ERA)
Arkansas – RHP Gage Wood (2-1, 2.45 ERA)
Wednesday, May 1
Missouri State – TBA
Arkansas – TBA
Tune In
Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Troy Eklund (analyst) will have the call of the midweek series between second-ranked Arkansas and Missouri State at Baum-Walker Stadium. Both ballgames will stream on SEC Network+.
The midweek series between the Hogs and Bears 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 (play-by-play) and Razorback great and former big leaguer Bubba Carpenter (analyst) on the call. A full list of radio affiliates is available here.
History Lesson
Arkansas maintains a 57-30 overall series record against Missouri State, including a 35-15 mark in Fayetteville. Under head coach Dave Van Horn, the Hogs are 19-11 overall against the Bears, with an 11-8 record at home in the series.
Got That Wood
Arkansas righty Gage Wood will make his first collegiate start on the mound in Tuesday’s series opener against Missouri State. The sophomore is 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 18.1 innings over 15 relief appearances this season.
As a true freshman in 2023, Wood emerged as the Razorbacks’ closer, posting a 2-0 record with a 4.80 ERA, 42 strikeouts and five saves in 30.0 innings of work. All five of his saves came in SEC play and were of the multi-inning variety.
Home Sweet Baum-Walker Stadium
Arkansas is 29-2 (.936 winning percentage) inside the friendly confines of Baum-Walker Stadium this season. Excluding the shortened 2020 campaign, the Razorbacks have won 28 or more home games in seven consecutive seasons (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024), including a program-record 34 home wins during the 2018 campaign.
The Hogs are just one home win shy of clinching their fifth 30-win season at Baum-Walker Stadium since the venue opened in 1996. Arkansas also accomplished 30-win seasons at home in 2018 (34), 2019 (33), 2021 (30) and 2023 (32).
Midweek Mojo
The Razorbacks are a perfect 10-0 in midweek games this season, including wins against Grambling, UCA, Oral Roberts, Little Rock, Arkansas State and UAPB, as well as a pair of midweek series sweeps over San Jose State and Texas Tech.
Arkansas enters this week’s two-game series against Missouri State looking to finish unbeaten in midweek contests during the regular season for the first time since 2005, when the Hogs went undefeated with a 9-0 midweek record.
For complete coverage of Arkansas baseball, follow the Hogs on Twitter (@RazorbackBSB), Instagram (@RazorbackBSB) and Facebook (Arkansas Razorback Baseball).
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — Purple is the color of the month in Arkansas, and Lupus Awareness Month is bringing a busy stretch of events, including a mayoral proclamation and a smooth jazz concert featuring acclaimed saxophonist Merlon Devine.
A proclamation for Lupus Awareness Month is set for 6 p.m. in North Little Rock, with Mayor Hardwick expected to present it. Organizers encouraged lupus warriors and supporters to come out.
Anita Boone, President of the Lupus Foundation of Arkansas Inc. and a former lupus warrior, described the day-to-day reality of living with the disease: “One minute you’re feeling amazing, the next minute your body is saying we can’t do this.”
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, described during the interview as a condition where the immune system attacks the body “inside out.” It can affect organs throughout the body, including the brain, lungs, heart and kidneys. Boone also shared personal impacts, saying, “I am losing, actually, ear from hearing, just because of lupus.”
The Lupus Foundation of Arkansas is also inviting the community to a Lupus Smooth Jazz Concert this Sunday, May 17, at 3:30 at The Space with Grace event venue, 2005 Main St., North Little Rock.
Gale Davis, committee chair for the Lupus Smooth Jazz Concert shared details about the concert.
Davis said guests are encouraged to “dress to impress,” though formalwear isn’t required. The event will include a photo backdrop, light hors d’oeuvres and beverages, and sponsored tables aimed at networking. It’s also a chance for people to meet other lupus warriors, learn more about the foundation’s work, and watch a video presentation highlighting events from the past year.
The featured artist, Merlon Devine, was described as an acclaimed saxophonist known for a soulful, smooth jazz sound, with a career spanning more than two decades and performances across the country and around the world. He’s also an Arkansas native who attended Little Rock Central High School. He now lives in Southern Maryland, outside Washington, D.C.
Davis said Devine’s connection to lupus is personal. She said his father had lupus and has since died, though he didn’t die from lupus. They also said Divine had a sister who died from lupus in 1981 and that he currently has two sisters living with lupus.
She also shared that, according to his doctors, Devine was born with acute asthma and underdeveloped lungs. His latest single, released last year, is called “Mercy.”
Tickets must be purchased online and will not be sold at the door. They’re available online by clicking on the flyer. Prices are $40 for individual tickets, or $400 for a table of nine, with an option to sponsor a table.
Organizers also noted another proclamation is planned for the Little Rock side with Mayor Frank Scott tomorrow, and encouraged people to follow the Lupus Foundation of Arkansas on social media for updates.
The concert will take place this Sunday at the Space With Grace Venue in North Little Rock.
ASHLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — An Arkansas man died after crashing a dirt bike on Sunday.
The 21-year-old Arkansas man, formerly from Newaygo, crashed into a tree while riding a dirt bike on private property in Ashland Township near Grant on Sunday before 2:30 p.m., according to Michigan State Police (MSP) troopers.
Emergency responders tried to save his life but he died at the scene.
Troopers are still investigating but do not suspect drugs or alcohol as factors in the crash.
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MSP did not initially release any additional information.
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas softball will once again host an NCAA Regional, this time as the No. 5 overall national seed.
The Razorbacks (42-11) will be the top seed in Fayetteville and open the tournament against fourth-seeded Fordham (27-26) at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 15.
Washington (36-18) is the two-seed and will face three-seed South Florida (42-15) that same day inside Bogle Park.
Arkansas is paired with the Durham Regional hosted by Duke (39-14) for a potential super regional. Arizona (35-16), Marshall (37-17) and Howard (28-17) are joining the Blue Devils in the regional.
This is the sixth consecutive season the Razorbacks will host a regional. It is also the program’s eighth straight NCAA Tournament berth under coach Courtney Deifel. Arkansas has reached the NCAA tournament 14 times, and more than half of those appearances have come under Deifel.
Arkansas ended the season No. 1 in the RPI despite finishing seventh in the SEC standings. The Hogs were eliminated by Alabama in the conference tournament quarterfinals.
Last year, Arkansas lost to SEC rival Ole Miss in the Super Regionals. The Hogs fell one win shy of reaching the Women’s College World Series for the first time in program history. They are hoping to take that elusive next step this summer and book a trip to Oklahoma City in two weeks time.
Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at jfuller@usatodayco.com or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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