No. 4 Arkansas (7-1) has its sights set on continuing its hot start to the 2025 season with a couple of impressive wins. The Razorbacks welcome the Charlotte 49ers (4-3) out of the American Conference for a three-game weekend series starting on Friday at Baum-Walker Stadium.
This is just the fifth meeting in history between Arkansas and Charlotte, with the series tied, 2-2. The first two meetings were in 2011 during the Tempe Regional. The 49ers won the opener by edging out the Razorbacks, 3-2. Arkansas went through the losers bracket by defeating New Mexico and crushed the 49ers, 11-3, in the 1-1 game. Arizona State soundly defeated the Hogs in the regional final, 13-4. The last time these two programs played each other was in 2019, when Arkansas defeated Charlotte in Fayetteville, Ark., in a midweek game, 9-2.
The season may still be young, but the Razorbacks are looking to build more confidence against non-conference opponents before heading into Southeastern Conference play. Here are three keys to the game the Hogs will need going into the series opener against the 49ers.
Arkansas baseball vs Charlotte: 3 Keys to victory
Give Gabe Gaeckle run support
RHP Gabe Gaeckle has had two impressive starts to the season as the ace for the Razorbacks. He tossed five shutout innings in the season-opening win on Feb. 14 against the Washington State Cougars and allowed just two runs to the Kansas State Wildcats on Feb. 21 in the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series through 5.2 frames, where the Hogs fell, 3-2. Both of his starts ended in a no decision.
Arkansas still needs to help out its elite pitching staff by putting up more runs on the board. This was evident in the loss to Kansas State last week, where the Razorbacks scored two runs on solo shots by the Aloy brothers in the bottom of the sixth inning. If the Hogs can do their part on offense, this team will be the total package.
Stay clean of fielding errors
Arkansas has committed six errors this season through its first eight games, but the two that came against Michigan on Sunday at Globe Life Field almost cost the Razorbacks big time. With two outs and a runner on second in the top of the ninth and the Hogs leading, 8-4, SS Wehiwa Aloy committed a throwing error that kept the game alive for the Wolverines.
Michigan went on to score two runs and had runners on second and third with a chance to tie the game. Fortunately, RHP Tate McGuire was able to seal the deal by getting the last man to ground out for Arkansas to escape Arlington, Texas, with an 8-6 victory.
The Razorbacks need to avoid these costly errors that could land them in serious trouble. Every little thing matters in the game of baseball.
Put up big innings
Charlotte comes into the series with a team ERA of 3.74 and a WHIP of 1.18. The 49ers have allowed just six home runs this season and have struck out 79 batters as a team compared to 24 walks. Arkansas is going to have to overwhelm this pitching staff and put up runs early.
The Hogs should use their home-field advantage against a team that has played six of their first games in the comfort of their own ballpark. The Hogs also need to keep their bats hot throughout the season to keep morale and confidence up on offense.
The Razorbacks and the 49ers will square off on Friday at Baum-Walker Stadium to begin the three-game series. The first pitch is slated for 3 p.m., and the matchup will be streamed on SEC Network+.