2008 Woodie Awards
Division-leading Auburn comes to Baum Stadium
Matt Watson
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: Sports
The Diamond Hogs will try to improve their 2-6 conference record this weekend with a three-game set against the Auburn Tigers, who are in a three-way tie for first place in the Southeastern Conference West.
With a little help, the Razorbacks could vault from fifth place in the West to first. Arkansas is 1.5 games behind Alabama, Auburn and Ole Miss, with LSU in fourth place. LSU gets Alabama at home this weekend and Ole Miss takes on Vanderbilt, and the next three days will prove to be a pivotal weekend in SEC play.
"April is a big month for us," Razorback head coach Dave Van Horn said. "It was a rough stretch in March, playing at Nebraska, at LSU, at Arizona State, just to name a few. We've really got to turn it around, starting this weekend against Auburn."
Arkansas (16-11, 2-6 SEC) has won five of its last six contests against Auburn (18-11, 4-5 SEC), but the common theme of Hog baseball this season has been of new faces in new places, which goes for both schools this weekend.
The Tigers will start three freshman pitchers, with left-handed redshirt freshman Grant Dayton (3-1, 3.44 ERA) taking the mound against Arkansas ace Cliff Springston (4-0, 2.94) on Friday night.
"I think our kids have handled themselves well," Auburn head coach Tom Slater said. "Part of that is our non-conference schedule we played to prepare them."
Razorback Justin Wells will square off with Auburn rookie lefty Cory Luckie (3-2, 3.05) in Game 2. Wells is making his first start of the season, but he is third on the staff in innings pitched, with 24 strikeouts in 25.2 innings.
Arkansas strikeout leader Dallas Keuchel (2-1, 3.19) will pitch in the series finale Sunday against freshman Bradley Hendrix (1-0, 3.82).
"Their pitchers are outstanding, they really pitch to both sides of the plate," Slater said. "[Hog pitching coach] Dave Jorn is as good as it gets."
Auburn has struggled mightily on the road this year, falling to 1-6 on the year after a 4-3 loss at South Alabama on Tuesday. The Tigers have been outscored 49-22 away from Samford Stadium.
With a little help, the Razorbacks could vault from fifth place in the West to first. Arkansas is 1.5 games behind Alabama, Auburn and Ole Miss, with LSU in fourth place. LSU gets Alabama at home this weekend and Ole Miss takes on Vanderbilt, and the next three days will prove to be a pivotal weekend in SEC play.
"April is a big month for us," Razorback head coach Dave Van Horn said. "It was a rough stretch in March, playing at Nebraska, at LSU, at Arizona State, just to name a few. We've really got to turn it around, starting this weekend against Auburn."
Arkansas (16-11, 2-6 SEC) has won five of its last six contests against Auburn (18-11, 4-5 SEC), but the common theme of Hog baseball this season has been of new faces in new places, which goes for both schools this weekend.
The Tigers will start three freshman pitchers, with left-handed redshirt freshman Grant Dayton (3-1, 3.44 ERA) taking the mound against Arkansas ace Cliff Springston (4-0, 2.94) on Friday night.
"I think our kids have handled themselves well," Auburn head coach Tom Slater said. "Part of that is our non-conference schedule we played to prepare them."
Razorback Justin Wells will square off with Auburn rookie lefty Cory Luckie (3-2, 3.05) in Game 2. Wells is making his first start of the season, but he is third on the staff in innings pitched, with 24 strikeouts in 25.2 innings.
Arkansas strikeout leader Dallas Keuchel (2-1, 3.19) will pitch in the series finale Sunday against freshman Bradley Hendrix (1-0, 3.82).
"Their pitchers are outstanding, they really pitch to both sides of the plate," Slater said. "[Hog pitching coach] Dave Jorn is as good as it gets."
Auburn has struggled mightily on the road this year, falling to 1-6 on the year after a 4-3 loss at South Alabama on Tuesday. The Tigers have been outscored 49-22 away from Samford Stadium.
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