Arkansas vs Vanderbilt: “Legally Cheating” Commodores Still A Force in RPI

The No. 4 Arkansas Razorbacks (36-12, 16-8) welcome the No. 24 Vanderbilt Commodores (32-15, 12-12) to Fayetteville this weekend. It’s the Hogs’ solely alternative to knock off a SEC staff from Tennessee this common season with the Volunteers off the Arkansas baseball schedule.

“I believe we’re going to enter the event and shake a whole lot of heads too with a staff that’s on the high of the (SEC) East,” junior second baseman Robert Moore stated following the sweep of LSU. 

It’s notable that No. 1 Tennessee now holds that spot since Vanderbilt laid declare to it so usually up to now. One motive that Vanderbilt baseball has been traditionally dominant is a program that enables them to “legally cheat,” as Arkansas sportscaster Mike Irwin put it final summer time. Alternative Vanderbilt, which relies on comparable applications at different non-public faculties just like the Ivy League faculties and Rice, permits Vanderbilt to select from a wider pool of expertise and get higher gamers than most different SEC faculties.

However that hack isn’t fairly slicing it up to now this season for Vandy, given the Commodores’ .500 SEC report. The Razorbacks and Vanderbilt are in reverse boats in terms of RPI, which ranks groups based mostly on their report and energy of schedule. Arkansas is ranked 4th however has an RPI rating of 21. In the meantime, the Commodores are ranked twenty fourth however are No. 4 within the RPI. 

The Commodores have struggled to take care of any success within the SEC via the season, and have solely not too long ago crawled again into the rankings after successful three of 4 collection, together with a collection victory at Georgia this previous weekend. 

They’re scoring 6.3 runs per sport of their final 12 convention video games. Arkansas has solely scored 5.3 runs in that very same timeframe. The Hogs scored 21 runs at Auburn, which was the primary time for the reason that Mississippi State collection a month in the past that Arkansas has put up over 20 runs in a single weekend. 

Arkansas followers can breathe a little bit simpler now that Robert Moore had a productive collection. The Leawood, Kansas native went 4-13 with a house run and 5 RBIs. 

Senior heart fielder Braydon Webb has been on hearth as of late. Over the previous two collection, he’s 10-20 with 5 free bases, three house runs and eight RBIs. 

Sophomore third baseman Cayden Wallace had a terrific weekend at Auburn. The righty from Greenbrier went 5-15 with 4 doubles and three RBIs. Senior catcher Michael Turner additionally performed nice over the weekend, hitting 5-13 with two doubles and three walks. 

Senior shortstop Jalen Battles broke a 2-26 stoop with a pair of hits and RBIs Sunday. Senior first baseman Brady Slavens broke a 1-12 stoop going into Auburn by going 3-10 with three walks. Junior left fielder Zack Gregory is only one for his final 14, however has three walks and three hit-by-pitches in that span.

Freshman designated hitter Kendall Diggs has emerged within the lineup after his walk-off house run towards Ole Miss. he was 2-11 with a pair of walks and a three-run house run towards Auburn. The sophomore Oklahoma switch Jace Bohrofen returned to the beginning lineup towards Ole Miss and has been 6-22 with a house run and three walks in six convention video games. 

Freshman first baseman Peyton Stovall has disappeared because of this, as he didn’t make an look towards Auburn. Senior proper fielder Chris Lanzilli has additionally seen his position decreased to 1 begin over the weekend regardless of persevering with to provide hits, doubtless in an try to enhance the protection. 

Vanderbilt’s offense is carried by their large three within the order. All three of them are streaking for the Commodores. 

The lineup is led by senior first baseman Dominic Keegan. He’s batting .392 with a staff main 11 house runs and 51 RBIs. He’s 9-23 with six walks over the previous two SEC collection with 4 house runs and 10 RBIs. 

Junior proper fielder Spencer Jones is second on the staff in all three classes with a .386 common, seven house runs and 41 RBIs. He’s on a 19-game hitting streak, together with a 6-6 efficiency Tuesday towards Indiana State. He’s hitting .429 in that span with two house runs and 19 RBIs. 

The defending SEC freshman of the yr, Enrique Bradfield Jr., mans the leadoff spot, hitting .297 with six house runs. He’s at all times a risk to run, going an ideal 34-34 on stolen base makes an attempt up to now this yr. He was 7-14 with a house run and two RBIs towards Georgia final weekend. 

Senior designated hitter Javier Vaz had a great weekend. He went 5-12 with a house run and 4 RBIs. Sophomore left fielder Calvin Hewitt was 7-21 within the final two weekends with a house run and 6 RBIs. 

Not everybody within the Vanderbilt lineup is sizzling. Sophomore Jack Bulger was 1-12 towards Georgia. Senior second baseman Tate Kolwyck is 0-10 in his final three begins. Junior shortstop solely has 1 hit in his final 24 at-bats. 

Arkansas vs Vanderbilt Sport 1

Time: Friday, Could 13 (6:30 p.m.) 

Watch: SEC Community+

Beginning Pitchers: 

Vanderbilt: LHP Devin Futrell (8-1, 2.03 ERA) 

Arkansas: RHP Connor Noland (5-3, 2.99 ERA) 

Sport 1 Prediction: 

Freshman left-hander Devin Futrell is ready to make his first convention look for the Commodores Friday. He has been implausible throughout midweek video games, main the SEC along with his 2.03 ERA. 

Nevertheless, SEC play is a special animal. Connor Noland is an skilled senior within the midst of a career-season. It will likely be a battle between the younger up and comer towards the skilled veteran Friday. 

It has been a tough go for Noland in his previous couple begins. He allowed seven runs over 12 innings. 

The seemingly rejuvenated bats for Arkansas could give the freshman some issues. Noland has the expertise to work round tough conditions. 

Rating Prediction: Arkansas wins 8-2 

Arkansas vs Vanderbilt Sport 2

Time: Saturday, Could 14 (6:30 p.m.) 

Watch: SEC Community+

Beginning Pitchers: 

Vanderbilt: RHP Chris McElvain (5-3, 3.48 ERA) 

Arkansas: LHP Hagen Smith (6-2, 3.79 ERA) 

Arkansas vs Vanderbilt Sport 2 Prediction: 

The junior pitcher for Vanderbilt has hit a groove as of late. He has allowed 4 runs over 18 innings in his previous three begins, together with seven hitless innings at Kentucky a number of weeks in the past. 

It has been a powerful rebound to a tough stretch the place he allowed 14 runs in 14.1 innings over three begins towards Tennessee, Auburn and Florida. 

On the opposite facet, Arkansas freshman Hagen Smith has been implausible in Fayetteville. He has posted a 2.30 ERA pitching in his house park. The Razorbacks are 7-0 with Smith beginning at house. 

Each pitchers have had good years and will face off in a pitchers’ duel Saturday in the event that they each convey their greatest stuff. 

Rating Prediction: Arkansas wins 3-2 

Arkansas vs Vanderbilt Sport 3

Time: Friday, Could 15 (2:00 p.m.) 

Watch: SEC Community+

Beginning Pitchers: 

Vanderbilt: LHP Carter Holton (6-3, 3.82 ERA) 

Arkansas: RHP Jaxon Wiggins (6-1, 5.40 ERA) 

Arkansas vs Vanderbilt Sport 3 Prediction

The Commodores will use one other left-handed freshman Sunday. Holton has pitched 11 shutout innings in his previous two begins. Nevertheless, final time he did that, he allowed seven runs over 1.1 innings in his subsequent begin at South Carolina. 

Holton has struggled on the highway in convention play, with a 7.02 ERA that’s inflated as a result of meltdown in Columbia. Vanderbilt is 8-1 when Holton will get three or extra runs of assist, with the road loss coming to No. 3 Oklahoma State. 

For Wiggins, it has been an up-and-down season. The laborious throwing sophomore has a deceptive ERA on account of his proper begin at Texas A&M the place he solely recorded one out. 

At house throughout SEC play, Wiggins has a a lot better 3.26 ERA. He’s additionally coming off a strong begin at Auburn, the place he allowed three runs, one earned, over 5 innings the place he needed to pitch round some unusually sloppy protection. 

Each pitchers have the potential to work late within the sport, however each have additionally had begins the place they can’t cease the bleeding early. 

Rating Prediction: Arkansas wins 8-7 

Arkansas vs Vanderbilt Prediction

Arkansas is hitting their stride on the proper time. A dominant collection towards Vanderbilt will ship a message to the remainder of the league and the NCAA’s RPI workers. 

The Commodores have struggled to take care of continued success throughout this season and Arkansas has been almost unbeatable at house, not shedding a house collection since 2019. The Razorbacks are 19-1 within the final 20 house SEC collection. 

This weekend ought to present any doubters that Arkansas is as soon as once more a championship contender. This weekend is about securing their spot within the top-8 nationwide seeds and demanding their due respect. 

Arkansas sweeps Vanderbilt in a tightly contested collection with a Saturday pitching duel and a wild finale. 

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