In the regional stage of the postseason, the Hogs went a perfect 3-0 with two wins over Creighton and one over North Dakota State. Tennessee emerged from the Knoxville Regional with a win-or-go-home victory in the final against Wake Forest.
The Hogs and Vols last met in the regular-season finale at Baum-Walker Stadium. Tennessee took game one, but Arkansas bounced back to win games two and three, clinching the series. Now, the two SEC powers meet again in Fayetteville with a trip to the College World Series on the line.
Coaching Matchup
Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello previously served as an assistant coach under Dave Van Horn at Arkansas from 2014 to 2017 before taking the helm in Knoxville in 2018. Vitello will aim to return to Omaha and repeat as national champion, while Van Horn continues his pursuit of his first College World Series title with the Razorbacks.
Previewing Tennessee
The Volunteers bring one of the nation’s most explosive offenses into Fayetteville, ranking third nationally with 128 home runs. Eight Tennessee players have hit double-digit home runs this season. The team enters with a .304 batting average and a .415 on-base percentage, presenting a major challenge for opposing pitching staffs. Andrew Fischer leads the team with 24 home runs, ranking third in the nation. Limiting his impact will be critical for Arkansas.
Tennessee’s pitching staff owns a 3.93 ERA and holds opposing teams to a .230 batting average. In their last series against Arkansas, Marcus Phillips started game one, the only Vols win of that series. Liam Doyle, a Golden Spikes Award finalist, has been one of the top pitchers in the country this year, though the Razorbacks tagged him for 11 hits and eight runs in just 4 2/3 innings in their last meeting.
Previewing the Hogs
Arkansas cruised through the Fayetteville Regional with timely hitting and dominant pitching. The Razorbacks lead the SEC with a .313 team batting average and have launched 120 home runs on the year. Seven players have reached double digits in home runs, with Golden Spikes Award finalist Wehiwa Aloy leading the team with 20.
On the mound, the Razorbacks were lights out in the regional round. Zach Root tossed six scoreless innings in the 12-1 win over Creighton, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out seven. In the regional final, Gage Wood and Gabe Gaeckle combined for 20 strikeouts and did not issue a single walk to help punch Arkansas’ ticket to the Super Regional.
Broadcast Information
Game 1: June 7, 4 p.m. CT (ESPN)
Game 2: June 8, 2 p.m. CT (ESPN)
Game 3 (if necessary): June 9, time and coverage TBD
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