Arkansas Baseball’s 3 Keys to Victory vs. Kansas State- Amegy Bank College Baseball Series

The Razorbacks are heading back to Arlington, Texas, to play in the College Baseball Series tournament. Here are three keys to defeating Kansas State.
Texas Tech v Arkansas
Texas Tech v Arkansas | Wesley Hitt/GettyImages

No. 4 Arkansas (4-0) returns to Arlington, Texas, for the third straight year to participate in the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field. The Razorbacks will face off against Kansas State (1-4), a team they met in last year's Fayetteville Regional, after the Wildcats handed them one of their two losses, ending their postseason run.

Like last season, Arkansas will be coming out to settle the score with a team that ended their NCAA Tournament run. The Razorbacks squared off against Oregon State on the opening day of the College Baseball Series in 2024, securing a 5-4 victory behind LHP Hagen Smith’s 17-strikeout performance to avenge their loss in the 2018 College World Series finals.

3 Keys to Arkansas baseball vs Kansas State

Let Gabe Gaeckle do his thing!

RHP Gabe Gaeckle had a solid start in the season opener against Washington State with five shutout innings while carving up seven batters and allowing just one hit and a walk. The Aptos, Calif. native was dominant during Arkansas' 2024 trip to Arlington on Feb. 24, throwing 2.2 scoreless innings against Oklahoma State as a freshman. He notably escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the bottom of the ninth to keep the game tied as the Hogs ultimately fell in 14 innings, 2-1.

Gaeckle has a big opportunity to go further than just five frames and can prove he has what it takes to be the Friday night guy for the Razorbacks.

Do not give up big innings

Last season’s 1-0 regional game was ultimately decided in the bottom of the fifth after Arkansas put up two runs in the top half of the fifth to take a 2-0 lead. Kansas State put up a six-spot to take a 6-2 lead with INF Kaelen Culpepper hitting a three-run home run with two outs to cap off the nightmare rally. The Razorbacks chipped away throughout the rest of the game but fell short, 7-6.

With this pitching staff still being loaded for the Hogs, they should shut down any situations involving runners on base. The bullpen did a pretty good job last week at keeping runners in check as Arkansas allowed just two runs in each of their four games.

Put up crooked numbers on the board

Speaking of big innings, the Razorback bats have a chance to show how much they have improved since last year. Arkansas was consistently getting on base last weekend via walks and extra-base hits that are not just homers. Guys like 3B Brent Iredale came up big in driving in runners in scoring position, but the Razorbacks are still having moments where they leave runners on base.

The Hogs had to count on their arms throughout most of the 2024 season, but this year’s offense can show they can help out and give the pitching staff some support.

First pitch between the Razorbacks and the Wildcats is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be streamed on FloCollege.

Schedule

Schedule