Diamond Hogs open SEC play with Kentucky

Next up for the Diamond Hogs

Opponent: Kentucky
When: 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 18
Where: Baum-Walker Stadium, Fayetteville
Streaming: SEC+
Radio: 92.1 FM / AM 1590 (more)

Upcoming games

March 19 – Kentucky, 6:30 p.m. (SEC+)
March 20 – Kentucky, Noon (SEC+)
March 23 – Omaha at Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, 3 p.m. (YurView)

The Kentucky Wildcats visit Baum-Walker Stadium this weekend for the Arkansas Razorbacks’ inaugural SEC series of the season that should be exciting for Hog baseball fans.

The Wildcats (14-4) pack a potent punch this season with a strong .324 team batting average that puts up nearly 10 runs a game.

The No. 4 Razorbacks (13-3) have shown a good deal of power of their own this season, belting three grand slams and 19 homers in all, but this should be a stout early season test for both squads.

The series opens at 6:30 p.m. Friday with chilly weather expected. However temperatures are expected to be much better for Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. first pitch, and Sunday’s noon start.

Right-handed Connor Noland (2-1,3.52 ERA) will start for the Hogs against the Wildcats righty Cole Stupp (2.0, 7.71). Freshman southpaw Hagen Smith (3-1, 2.66) is expected to start Saturday for the Hogs, which right-hander Jaxon Wiggins (2-0, 4.35) on the mound Sunday.

Smith will face lefty Magdiel Cotto (1-0, 7.24), but the Wildcats have not named a Sunday starter.