Although No. 16 Arkansas baseball (24-13, 8-7 SEC) facing the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) (17-21, 10-5 SWAC) in North Little Rock usually would not garner much interest, Razorback Nation and SEC fans are eager to see if the Razorbacks are genuinely rejuvenated after sweeping then No. 8 and now No. 11 Alabama (26-11, 8-7 SEC).
After such an emotional weekend series in Tuscaloosa, sweeping one of the best teams in the nation, the Alabama Crimson Tide, it can seem a natural human impulse for the Razorbacks to come into this game and play flat, uninspired baseball against a far inferior opponent like the UAPB Golden Lions. The Hogs, however, must resist this seemingly organic impulse, especially given that they have lost multiple games this season to opponents who never should have upset them.
Failing to respect the Golden Lions could send shockwaves across the nation even more intense than those emitted when the Razorbacks lost to the Arkansas State Red Wolves. Even though UAPB's overall record does not suggest it has a reasonable chance to upset Arkansas, the team has played well in the SWAC, and nine Golden Lions have batting averages above .300. The Golden Lions' three best hitters are Aaron Grant, Zach Wieder, and Blake Coleman.
Of the three previously mentioned players, Grant is UAPB's best hitter. He has a .357 batting average with four home runs and 35 RBIs. Wieder has a .336 batting average with three home runs and 32 RBIs. Coleman has a .336 batting average with four home runs and 33 RBIs. These three hitters, therefore, sit at the core of what the Golden Lions attempt to do offensively.
Arkansas baseball vs. UAPB: 3 keys to a Razorbacks win
Colin Fisher must set the tone on the mound
Understanding that UAPB has nine players on its roster with batting averages above .300, though not all of them start or receive considerable playing time, Colin Fisher, who will start the game for the Hogs, must pitch with robust command and not allow Grant, Wieder, Coleman, and their supporting cast to gain any hope and traction from the outset. If he controls the game on the mound, the Hogs may only need him to pitch, considering that this is a game they can end with a run-rule victory.
However, if Fisher does not shut down the Golden Lions, the game could last longer than necessary and use more pitchers than the team should heading into the opening game of the series on Thursday against Georgia. Arkansas, therefore, needs Fisher to provide strong leadership through excellent pitching. How he pitches is critical to maintaining the Razorbacks' momentum.
If any pitchers come in relief for Fisher, they need to demonstrate that the Hogs' bullpen is ready to serve as a potent force in the second half of the season and put Georgia on notice that once Dave Van Horn goes to his bullpen, the Bulldogs will have no competitive advantage. Arkansas must benefit from significantly improved pitching to win each remaining SEC series and wage a serious campaign to win its coach his elusive first national championship.
Overwhelm the Golden Lions at the plate
The Razorbacks hold a considerable edge at the plate over UAPB. Even though Arkansas has such an edge, this does not mean that the team should revert to swinging for the fences during each plate appearance. To avoid some justified and much more unsubstantiated criticism, Nate Thompson must insist that his batters focus on quality plate appearances and not try to blast the ball out of the park each time. Playing small ball is an effective and realistic offensive strategy that must be the Hogs' primary strategy.
When viable opportunities to hit homers present themselves, the Hogs should seize them against any opponent. Although the Razorbacks know they are far better than the Golden Lions, this should not cause them to abandon playing small ball, which was central to their sweep of Alabama. Arkansas looked like a team that could beat any team in the nation against the Crimson Tide, and this commitment to smart hitting is at the center of such improvement.
A game like this one against UAPB is one where TJ Pompey, Cam Kozeal, Kuhio Aloy, and Ryder Helfrick should have impressive performances. If Arkansas is to make a deep postseason run, Helfrick must improve his batting average, which begins with an honest commitment to playing small ball; the home runs will organically materialize.
Demonstrate focus and discipline
Although Van Horn always has one of the most disciplined teams in the nation each season, his current team can benefit from leaning more into discipline and permanently adopting the focus it displayed on the road against Alabama. Surprisingly, the reason the Arkansas Razorbacks have lost as many games as they have is their lack of consistent focus and discipline.
The Hogs must not make silly mistakes and decisions against the Golden Lions because such mistakes and decisions become habits. The right time to rid their system of these mistakes and decisions is now, starting with today's game.
A focused and disciplined team, when faced with an inferior opponent such as UAPB, will perform to its own standards and meet its own high expectations, rather than playing down to the current level of competition. Â
Final Thoughts
Although the UAPB Golden Lions do not present the Arkansas Razorbacks with anywhere near the challenge they will face on Thursday at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville against the Georgia Bulldogs, expect the Hogs to continue to build on the momentum gained from sweeping Alabama in Tuscaloosa and to achieve a run-rule victory today in North Little Rock.
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