The unanimous No. 1 Arkansas Razorbacks (23-3, 8-1 SEC) will look to make it 18 straight home wins as they face the Arkansas State Red Wolves (16-14, 3-6 SBC) on Tuesday night for their third in-state midweek matchup of the season.
The Hogs are coming in hot off of a sweep of the LSU Tigers, which took their home win streak up to 17 games. Arkansas State will enter Tuesday’s game limping after dropping a home series to Georgia Southern, which included a run-rule loss in Game 2.
Tuesday’s game is set to begin at 6 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed on SEC Network+.
At a Glance
The Red Wolves are coached by Tommy Raffo, whose squad began the year 8-0 but has dropped 14 of its last 22 contests. They are currently dead last in the Sun Belt Conference in RPI with a ranking of 221. Arkansas State is looking to improve upon its 2023 season in which it finished 20-31 with a conference record of 9-19.
So far in 2024, A-State has picked up wins over Ole Miss and Missouri State to go with a home series win over Eastern Illinois. Key losses for the Red Wolves include dropped conference series to Marshall, Louisiana and Georgia Southern.
Key Bats for Red Wolves
Austen Jaslove leads A-State in ABs (110) and batting average (.351). That average has plummeted in the last couple of weeks as the Tennessee transfer has just two base hits in his last 31 plate appearances.
Another big name should be familiar: former Razorback Cason Tollett. He leads his team in home runs (6) as well as RBI (24).
Other names to look out for include Allen Grier, Blake Burres and Daedrick Cale. This Arkansas State squad has some quality talent at the top end, but it’s not blessed with much depth. As a team, the Red Wolves have hit 30 long balls and hold a team batting average of .262.
Projected Pitching Matchup
(ARK) LHP Colin Fisher: 4-1, 2.50 ERA, 20 K/ 3 BB, 18 IP vs (ASU) RHP Kole Turner: 1-1, 5.19 ERA, 17 K/ 13 BB, 17.1 IP
The Red Wolves will rely heavily on the bullpen, which has been their strong suit so far this season. Names to know out of the pen include Hunter Draper, Blaine Harpenau and Coby Greiner.
Arkansas is rolling once more with true freshman Colin Fisher, who did not get the start last Tuesday as Ben Bybee made his season debut. Fisher will look to get back in a groove as he has not pitched since Game 3 of the Auburn series.
There’s a good chance Bybee gets back on the mound at some point for Arkansas in this game, along with fellow right-hander Dylan Carter.