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Is a Return to Omaha in the Future for Arkansas Baseball?

By Derek Millsap

Jun 13, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks pitcher Trey Killian (21) hands the ball to head coach Dave Van Horn during the game against the Virginia Cavaliers during the eighth inning in the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Virginia Cavaliers won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 13, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks pitcher Trey Killian (21) hands the ball to head coach Dave Van Horn during the game against the Virginia Cavaliers during the eighth inning in the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Virginia Cavaliers won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Diamond Hogs made a trip to the College World Series in 2015. Can the Arkansas baseball team repeat their success in 2016?

In 2015, if you predicted that the Razorbacks would make it to the College World Series going into the Ole Miss series on March 26th, a lot of people would have laughed at you. The Hogs had a 12-12 overall record and a miserable 1-5 record to start SEC play. But, a fire was lit under the Razorbacks that weekend, and it burned for the rest of the season. The Hogs took 2 out of 3 against Ole Miss in Fayetteville, then went on to win 19 out of their last 26 games heading into the SEC Tournament.

While in Hoover, the Hogs would go 2-2, which included an upset win over 9th ranked Florida in the second round. Even though the Hogs ran out of gas at the SEC Tournament, they would not stop fighting for a championship.

The Diamond Hogs would then move on to the Stillwater Regional and sweep it, going 3-0 with wins over Oral Roberts, Oklahoma State, and St. John’s. Arkansas would then host the Super Regional against Missouri State which, depending on who you talked to, were the favorite in the series. The Hogs would blast the Bears 18-4 in game 1 before going on to take the series 2-1 and stamp their ticket to the CWS. Sadly, the fire underneath the Hogs was extinguished, as they went 0-2 in Omaha. Still, it was such an amazing turnaround for the team. To go from 12-12 to Omaha was one of the most exciting things to witness in Arkansas baseball history.

Jun 13, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks outfielder Clark Eagan (9) watches a fly ball in the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 13, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks outfielder Clark Eagan (9) watches a fly ball in the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /

So the question is, can Razorback Nation expect another run to the CWS in 2016? Even with the Hogs losing players like Spoon, Benintendi, and Wernes, I think the Hogs have enough talent to make a run into the postseason. One thing that will play a big factor into the success of the Razorbacks in 2016 will be keeping Taccolini, McKinney and Teague healthy on the mound to add support to Zach Jackson, who has been named a Preseason All-American by Perfect Game and Collegiate Baseball. But overall, there are a lot of familiar faces returning this season at other positions as well, including Nomura, Bernal, Eagan, Shaddy, and Pennell. The non conference schedule, in my opinion, is also favorable for the Hogs to put themselves in position to have a good year and make a run to the postseason.

Notable non conference opponents include Oklahoma State, Missouri State, Rice, Houston, and Texas Tech. The other non conference games with Central Michigan, Mississippi Valley State, Louisiana Tech, Eastern Illinois, Gonzaga, Western Illinois, Grambling State, Memphis, Creighton, and Louisiana-Monroe.

Those are series that the Razorbacks should be favored to win. So all in all the Diamond Hogs are bringing an experienced roster into the 2016 season with a schedule that could set the Hogs up in good position to make a run into the postseason. But, as we all know, it really comes down to SEC play every year.

More razorbacks: How Alex Collins Changed Arkansas Football

The SEC is one of the elite baseball conferences in the country and it’s not easy to run through. But, if Arkansas can stay within the top 6 of the SEC I believe we will see the Razorbacks back in the postseason and making another run to one of the greatest sporting events in collegiate sports: The College World Series in Omaha.

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