FAYETTEVILLE — More than half of the No. 1 Arkansas Razorbacks’ baseball games this season have been against 13 teams that joined them in the NCAA Tournament field.
The University of Arkansas (46-10) has played 34 games against NCAA Tournament teams, and the Razorbacks are 28-6 in those matchups.
When the top eight seeds were revealed on the NCAA Tournament selection show Monday on ESPN2, it looked like Arkansas’ schedule.
In addition to the No. 1 seed Razorbacks, the other seven top eight seeds included six Arkansas opponents: No. 2 Texas, No. 3 Tennessee, No. 4 Vanderbilt, No. 6 TCU, No. 7 Mississippi State and No. 8 Texas Tech.
What in the world was Razorbacks Coach Dave Van Horn thinking by not scheduling No. 5 seed Arizona?
Of Arkansas’ first 20 games, 16 were against teams in the NCAA Tournament.
“It seemed like every time we looked up we were playing one of the top 25 teams to the point where we didn’t even know anymore,” Van Horn said. “It didn’t matter. We were just playing a good team.
“I think our schedule was off the charts. No. 1 in the country as far as the strength, and it just kept getting better and better and better.
“I don’t know if we’ll ever play a tougher one. It’s just the way it worked out. We were just fortunate we got out to a good start against some really good teams and we kept it up.”
Arkansas opened in the College Baseball Showdown in Arlington, Texas, by beating Texas Tech, Texas and TCU to set the tone for a dominating performance that has continued week after week, including SEC regular-season and tournament championships.
Along with being 1-0 against the Red Raiders, Longhorns and Horned Frogs, the Razorbacks’ records against the other 10 NCAA Tournament teams they faced are 4-0 vs. Southeast Missouri State; 3-0 vs. Florida; 3-0 vs. Mississippi State; 3-1 vs. Tennessee; 3-1 vs. Ole Miss; 2-1 vs. Alabama; 2-1 vs. LSU; 2-1 vs. Louisiana Tech; 2-1 vs. South Carolina; and 1-0 vs. Vanderbilt.
Meeting again
When Arkansas infielder Cullen Smith steps into the batter’s box today, it won’t be the first time he has faced NJIT starter Tyler Stafflinger.
Smith went 1 for 2, walked and hit a three-run home run against Stafflinger on March 16, 2019, while playing for East Tennessee State. Smith scored two of the Buccaneers’ seven runs against Stafflinger in a 12-2 ETSU victory.
Smith also faced NJIT’s star reliever Jake Rappaport during a series in Johnson City, Tenn. Rappaport hit Smith with a pitch. Smith was 2 for 8 with 3 walks, 4 runs and 5 RBI during the three-game series against NJIT.
Means more teams
The SEC leads all conferences in the NCAA Tournament’s 68-team field with nine teams. The ACC is second with eight teams, followed by the Pac-12 with six.
The Big 12 and Conference USA each have four teams, and the Big Ten has three. Conferences with two teams each are the Atlantic Sun, Big South, Big West, Metro Atlantic and Missouri Valley.
“I’m glad to see nine got in,” Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. “I was hoping for 10. I feel bad for Georgia.”
Sellout
All reserved and general admission tickets have been sold for this weekend’s regional, but a limited number of student tickets remain on a first-come, first-serve basis for all games except today’s opener between Arkansas and NJIT.
Tailgating allowed
The University of Arkansas will permit tailgating in parking lots around Baum-Walker Stadium this weekend. Parking lots will open four hours prior to the start of each day’s first game.
Citing Arkansas Department of Health guidelines, the UA prohibited tailgating during the regular season.
Announce team
Steve Lenox will call play-by-play and Lance Cormier will be the color analyst for all of the regional games.
Cormier pitched in eight MLB seasons as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers. Cormier played college baseball at Alabama and is a color analyst for the Crimson Tide’s home games on SEC Network-Plus.
Big crowds
Attendance is expected to be greater than 11,000 for Arkansas’ home regional games this weekend, but they won’t be the largest crowds the Razorbacks have played in front of this season.
On Feb. 21, Arkansas played Texas in front of an announced crowd of 17,587 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, which was tied for the largest attendance at a college baseball game this season.
Win streaks
NJIT has the fourth-longest win streak in college baseball. The Highlanders have won nine consecutive games.
Arkansas’ eight-game winning streak is tied with Central Michigan and UC Santa Barbara for the fifth-longest in the country. The Razorbacks have not lost since Tennessee’s Max Ferguson hit a three-run home run in the ninth inning to win 8-7 on May 15.