ARLINGTON, Texas– Following a successful series victory at home during the Opening Weekend, the second-ranked Razorbacks are embarking on their first road trip of the season to Arlington, Texas, to participate in the Kubota College Baseball Series.
Arkansas, ranked No. 2 with a 3-1 record, will face tough competition from No. 7 Oregon State (5-0), Oklahoma State (2-2), and Michigan (2-2) in a three-game tournament hosted at Globe Life Field, the home of the reigning World Series champions, the Texas Rangers. The action kicks off on Friday, Feb. 23, with the first pitch between the Razorbacks and the Beavers scheduled for 7 p.m. airing on FloBaseball.
This upcoming weekend will mark the Razorbacks’ third appearance in the Arlington-based tournament, having previously participated in 2021, 2023, and now in 2024. Arkansas holds a strong 5-1 record in games played at Globe Life Field, boasting a perfect 3-0 record in 2021 and a 2-1 record in 2023.
Kubota College Baseball Series Schedule
Friday, Feb. 23
#7 Oregon State vs. #2 Arkansas – 7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 24
#2 Arkansas vs. Oklahoma State – 7 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 25
#2 Arkansas vs. Michigan – 1 p.m.
On the Mound
Friday, Feb. 23
Oregon State – RHP Aiden May (1-0, 1.69 ERA)
Arkansas – LHP Hagen Smith (0-0, 27.00 ERA)
Saturday, Feb. 24
Arkansas – RHP Brady Tygart (1-0, 1.80 ERA)
Oklahoma State – RHP Brian Holiday (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Sunday, Feb. 25
Arkansas – LHP Mason Molina (0-0, 4.91 ERA)
Michigan – TBA
Tune In
The play-by-play coverage will be provided by Brant Freeman, with Pat Combs as the analyst on FloBaseball. Additionally, all three games of the Razorbacks in the Kubota College Baseball Series can be followed on the Razorback Sports Network from Learfield, including a local broadcast in Fayetteville on 92.1 FM or through the Razorback app, with Phil Elson providing commentary.
For a complete list of radio affiliates, visit the provided link.
History Lesson
Arkansas will face Oregon State for the seventh time in history on Friday night, with the series currently tied at 3-3. The previous six games between these teams were also played at neutral sites.
Against Oklahoma State, Arkansas holds a 21-26 record, with a notable victory of 18-1 in the last season’s College Baseball Showdown at Globe Life Field. The Razorbacks have been successful under head coach Dave Van Horn, with an 8-7 record in the series (15 meetings).
The clash between Arkansas and Michigan will mark their first-ever meeting on the baseball field in Sunday’s tournament finale.
Hogs at Globe Life Field
Arkansas has a strong record of 5-1 in games played at Globe Life Field and will be making its third appearance in the Arlington-based tournament this weekend. The Razorbacks had notable victories in the previous tournaments held at Globe Life Field in 2021 and 2023.
H. Smith on the Mound
Ace pitcher Hagen Smith will take the mound in Friday’s tournament opener against Oregon State. This will be Smith’s second start at Globe Life Field, following an impressive performance last year against Texas.
Winning on Opening Weekend
Arkansas began the 2024 season by clinching three out of four games against James Madison, extending their streak of 28 consecutive non-conference home weekend series victories. The Razorbacks have maintained a remarkable record on Opening Day under head coach Dave Van Horn, with 21 wins out of 22 games.