TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 22 Arkansas (21-13, 5-7 SEC) hits the road for the second weekend in a row, traveling to No. 8 Alabama (26-8, 8-4 SEC) for a three-game series at Sewell–Thomas Stadium. First pitch between the Hogs and Crimson Tide is 6 p.m. Friday, April 10, on SEC Network+ with Chris Stewart (play-by-play) and Alan Dunn (analyst) on the call.
Game two of the weekend series is scheduled to get underway at 4 p.m. Saturday, April 11, on SEC Network with Derek Jones (play-by-play) and Gregg Olson (analyst) in the broadcast booth. Arkansas and Alabama conclude the weekend with a 1 p.m. first pitch in the series finale Sunday, April 12, on SEC Network+ with Stewart and Dunn back on the call.
After winning their first two SEC series, the Razorbacks have lost consecutive conference series entering this weekend’s action in Tuscaloosa and, at 5-7 in league play, are off to their worst 12-game SEC start since 2016 (4-8). Before this year, Arkansas started 8-4 or better through 12 SEC games in eight consecutive seasons from 2017-25, which marked the best stretch of starting 8-4 or better in conference play by a team since LSU did so in eight consecutive seasons from 1991-98.
Schedule
Friday, April 10
#22 Arkansas vs. #8 Alabama – 6 p.m.
Saturday, April 11
#22 Arkansas vs. #8 Alabama – 4 p.m.
Sunday, April 12
#22 Arkansas vs. #8 Alabama – 1 p.m.
On the Mound
Friday, April 10
Arkansas – LHP Hunter Dietz (3-2, 3.70 ERA)
Alabama – RHP Tyler Fay (6-2, 4.07 ERA)
Saturday, April 11
Arkansas – LHP Cole Gibler (3-0, 2.57 ERA)
Alabama – LHP Zane Adams (4-2, 4.07 ERA)
Sunday, April 12
Arkansas – TBA
Alabama – RHP Myles Upchurch (4-2, 3.60 ERA)
Tune In
The weekend series can locally in Fayetteville on 92.1 The Ticket and The Ticket app, with Phil Elson on the call. A full list of radio affiliates is available here.
History Lesson
Arkansas is 49-55 overall against Alabama, including aa 15-29 record in games played in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Under head coach Dave Van Horn (2003-pres.), the Razorbacks are 38-31 overall and 15-18 in road games against the Crimson Tide, including a 12-18 mark in games played in Tuscaloosa as well as a 3-0 mark in games played in Hoover, Ala., in 2015.
The Hogs enter the weekend seeking their first series win in Tuscaloosa since 2019. Arkansas has lost back-to-back road series against Alabama in 2022 and 2024 after winning four straight road series in 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019.
Here’s The Situation
The Razorbacks, 5-7 in league play, need a series sweep against the Crimson Tide to avoid a losing record through their first 15 SEC games for the first time since the 2016 campaign. That season, Arkansas began 4-11 through its first 15 SEC games before finishing the year with a 7-23 mark in conference play, its worst SEC record in program history.
Arkansas last went 8-7 through their first 15 SEC games in 2012, finishing 16-14 in conference play and advancing to the College World Series for the seventh time in program history. The Razorbacks most recently went 7-8 through their first 15 SEC games in 2015, finishing 17-12 in league play before advancing to the College World Series for the eighth time.
Dazzlin’ Dietz
Plagued by injuries during the first two years of his collegiate career, Arkansas’ Hunter Dietz is now fully healthy and quickly proving why he is one of the top left-handers in college baseball. Through his first eight starts of the season, the Trinity, Fla., native owns a 3-2 record with a 3.70 ERA and an SEC-leading 69 strikeouts in 41.1 innings on the mound.
After beginning the season as the Razorbacks’ game two starter, Dietz will make his first series-opening start of the campaign Friday night against the Crimson Tide. The left-hander has logged a team-high four quality starts this year:
1. UT Arlington (Feb. 28) – 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO
2. Stetson (March 7) – 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 12 SO
3. South Carolina (March 21) – 6.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 12 SO
4. #18 Auburn (April 3) – 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 11 SO
Dietz has also turned in three double-digit strikeout efforts, tied for eighth most in a season by a Razorback pitcher:
1. Stetson (March 7) – 12 SO
2. South Carolina (March 21) – 12 SO
3. #18 Auburn (April 3) – 11 SO
With his next double-digit strikeout game, Dietz will move into a tie for seventh most in a season by a Razorback pitcher:
1. 11 – Hagen Smith, 2024
T2. 8 – Nick Schmidt, 2006
T2. 8 – David Walling, 1999
T4. 6 – Trevor Stephan, 2017
T4. 6 – David Walling, 1998
6. 5 – Jess Todd, 2007
7. 4 – Isaiah Campbell, 2019
T8. 3 – Hunter Dietz, 2026
T8. 3 – Zach Root, 2025
T8. 3 – Mason Molina, 2024
T8. 3 – Blaine Knight, 2017
