Arkansas
COACH Dave Van Horn (484-270 in 12 seasons at Arkansas, 1,069-510 in 26 seasons overall)
2014 RECORD 40-25, 16-14 SEC
2015 SEASON OPENER 3:05 p.m. today vs. North Dakota at Baum Stadium
TOP RETURNERS LF Joe Serrano, RF Tyler Spoon, CF Andrew Benintendi, 1B Clark Eagan, RHP Trey Killian, RHP Jacob Stone, RHP Zach Jackson, SS Brett McAfee, 3B Bobby Wernes, 2B/SS Michael Bernal, C Alex Gosser, RHP Dominic Taccolini.
TOP NEWCOMERS C Tucker Pennell, OF Luke Bonfield, 2B Rick Nomura, RHP Keaton McKinney, C/INF Chad Spanberger, C/OF Carson Shaddy.
SCOUTING REPORT The Razorbacks should be improved offensively, and not just because there is a livelier baseball. They have better depth and more speed and athleticism with good hitters from both sides of the plate. Their defense should be solid with many returning position players. Ace Trey Killian needs to get healthy — he won’t pitch this weekend as he continues to recover from tendinitis in his right elbow — and sophomores James Teague, Domonic Taccolini and Zach Jackson need to show they’re good enough to make the starting rotation for SEC play or be quality relievers. Jacob Stone took to the closer role late last season.
QUOTING DAVE VAN HORN “I feel like we’re ready to play. We’ve had great weather and have a nice indoor facility and haven’t missed any [practice] time. I think our guys are ready to play somebody else and I’m looking forward to seeing how they do.”
SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT TIME (TV) Feb. 13 N. Dakota 3:05 p.m. (SECN-plus) Feb. 14 N. Dakota 11:35 a.m. DH (SECN-plus) Feb. 20 vs Central Florida# 2 p.m. (CST) Feb. 21 at South Alabama# 6:30 p.m. (CST) Feb. 22 vs Maryland# 10 a.m. (CST) Feb. 26 California 3:05 p.m. (SECN-plus) Feb. 27 California 3:05 p.m. (SECN-plus) Feb. 28 California 11 a.m. (SECN) March 1 California 1 p.m. (SECN-plus) March 4 Louisiana Tech 3:05 p.m. (SECN-plus) March 6 Loy. Mary. 3:05 p.m. (SECN-plus) March 7 Loy. Mary. TBA (SECN-plus) March 8 Loy. Mary. 1:05 p.m. (SECN-plus) March 10 Gonzaga 6:35 p.m. (SECN-plus) March 11 Gonzaga 3:05 p.m. (SECN-plus) March 13 at Vanderbilt * 6:30 p.m. (SECN-plus) March 14 at Vanderbilt * 2 p.m. (SECN-plus) March 15 at Vanderbilt * 1 p.m. (SECN-plus) March 17 SE Missouri St. 6:35 p.m. (SECN-plus) March 18 SE Missouri St. 3:05 p.m. (SECN-plus) March 19 LSU * 6 p.m. (SECN) March 20 LSU * 8 p.m. (SECN) March 21 LSU * 2:05 (SECN-plus) March 24 Memphis^ 6:30 p.m. March 25 at Memphis 5:30 p.m. (CST) March 26 Ole Miss * 6:35 p.m. (ESPNU) March 27 Ole Miss * 6 p.m. (SECN) March 28 Ole Miss * 2:05 p.m. (SECN-plus) March 31 Missouri St. 6:35 p.m. (SECN-plus) April 3 at Auburn* 6 p.m. (SECN-plus) April 4 at Auburn * 6 p.m. (SECN) April 5 at Auburn * 1 p.m. (SECN-plus) April 7 Miss. Valley St. 6:35 p.m. (SECN-plus) April 8 Miss. Valley St. 3:05 p.m. (SECN-plus) April 10 Kentucky * 6:35 p.m. (SECN-plus) April 11 Kentucky * 6:05 p.m. (SECN-plus) April 12 Kentucky * 1:05 p.m. (SECN-plus) April 14 S.F. Austin:6:35 p.m. (SECN-plus)
April 15 S.F. Austin 3:05 p.m. (SECN-plus) April 17 at Texas A&M * 6:35 p.m. (SECN-plus) April 18 at Texas A&M * 7:30 p.m. (ESPNU) April 19 at Texas A&M * 3:05 p.m. (SECN) April 24 Miss. State * 6:35 p.m. (SECN-plus) April 25 Miss. State * 6:05 p.m. (SECN-plus) April 26 Miss. State * 1:05 p.m. (SECN-plus) April 30 at Alabama * % 6 p.m. (SECN) May 1 at Alabama * % 6 p.m. (SECN) May 2 at Alabama * % noon (ESPN2) May 8 Tennessee * 6:35 p.m. (SECN-plus) May 9 Tennessee * 6:05 p.m. (SECN-plus) May 10 Tennessee * 1:05 p.m. (SECN-plus) May 12 at Creighton 7 p.m. May 14 at Georgia 6 p.m. (SECN-plus) May 15 at Georgia 6 p.m. (SECN-plus) May 16 at Georgia * noon (SECN-plus) May 19-24 SEC Tournament (Hoover, Ala.)
*SEC game #S. Alabama Tournament, Mobile, Ala. ^Dickey-Stephens Park, North Little Rock %At Hoover, Ala.
NOTE SECN-plus is live Internet streaming
Arkansas State
COACH Tommy Raffo (174-170-1 in seventh season at ASU overall)
2014 RECORD 32-27 overall, 18-12 Sun Belt
2015 SEASON OPENER 6 p.m. today vs. Illinois State at Tomlinson Stadium in Jonesboro
TOP RETURNERS 1B Matt Burgess, C Stuart Levy, INF Lucas Feddersen, INF Joe Schrimpf, RHP David Owen, LHP Chandler Hawkins.
TOP NEWCOMERS INF Tim Seldomridge, RHP Austin Aspegren, OF Ty White.
SCOUTING REPORT Arkansas State was picked to finish third in the Sun Belt Conference after finishing third last season. The Red Wolves return two experienced starters in junior right-hander David Owen and senior left-hander Chandler Hawkins. Owen (5-6, 4.19 ERA, 15 starts) was a preseason All-Sun Belt pick. Hawkins (5-5, 5.11 ERA, 13 starts) was in and out of the rotation last year. Coach Tommy Raffo said Owen will pitch today, followed by Hawkins and sophomore right-hander Tyler Zuber (2.34 ERA, 24 appearances). Matt Burgess (.313, 4 home runs, 58 RBI), a junior first baseman, anchors a lineup that returns three of its top five hitters from a year ago.
QUOTING TOMMY RAFFO “Two years ago we had a lot of big hopes for [David Owen] and [he] didn’t come out of the chute very well. He really didn’t become as effective as he could until halfway into his sophomore year when he realized how hard work could affect things. He’s done that, and we’re anxious to see what he can do.”
SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT TIME
Feb. 13 Illinois State 6 p.m. Feb. 14 Illinois State (DH) 2 p.m. Feb. 15 Illinois State 1 p.m. Feb. 17 at Ole Miss 4 p.m. Feb. 21 Creighton^ 5 p.m. Feb. 21 at Northwestern (La.) State^ 5 p.m. Feb. 24 Southeast Missouri 6 p.m. Feb. 27 at Houston Baptist 2 p.m. Feb. 28 at Houston Baptist 1 p.m. March 1 at Houston Baptist 2 p.m. March 3 at Southern Illinois 3 p.m. March 6 Texas-Arlington * 6 p.m. March 7 Texas-Arlington * 4 p.m. March 8 Texas-Arlington * 1 p.m. March 10 Missouri State 6:30 p.m. March 11 Missouri State 3 p.m. March 13 Georgia State * 6 p.m. March 14 Georgia State * 4 p.m. March 15 Georgia State * Noon March 17 at Memphis 6:30 p.m. March 20 at Georgia Southern * 5 p.m. March 21 at Georgia Southern * 1 p.m. March 22 at Georgia Southern * Noon March 24 at Murray State 3 p.m. March 27 at Louisiana-Lafayette * 6 p.m. March 28 at Louisiana-Lafayette * 2 p.m. March 29 at Louisiana-Lafayette * 1 p.m. March 31 at Southeast Missouri 6:30 p.m. April 3 South Alabama * 6 p.m. April 4 South Alabama * 6 p.m. April 5 South Alabama * 1 p.m. April 10 at Troy * 6 p.m. April 11 at Troy * 6 p.m. April 12 at Troy * 1 p.m. April 14 Central Arkansas 6:30 p.m. April 17 at Louisiana-Monroe * 6 p.m. April 18 at Louisiana-Monroe * 6 p.m. April 19 at Louisiana-Monroe * 1 p.m. April 21 Murray State 6:30 p.m. April 24 Appalachian State * 6 p.m. April 25 Appalachian State * 6 p.m. April 26 Appalachian State * Noon April 28 Memphis 6:30 p.m. May 1 at Kansas State 6:30 p.m. May 2 at Kansas State 2 p.m. May 3 at Kansas State 1 p.m. May 5 at Central Arkansas 6 p.m. May 8 at Texas State * 6 p.m. May 9 at Texas State * 3 p.m. May 10 at Texas State * Noon May 12 Ole Miss 6:30 p.m. May 14 UALR * 6:30 p.m. May 15 UALR * 6 p.m. May 16 UALR * 1 p.m. May 20-24 Sun Belt Tournament& TBA *Sun Belt game
^at Natchitoches, La.
&at Troy, Ala.
UALR
COACH Chris Curry (0-0 in first season at UALR and overall)
2014 RECORD 25-29 overall, 11-19 Sun Belt
2015 SEASON OPENER 3 p.m. today vs. Evansville at Gary Hogan Field in Little Rock
TOP RETURNERS RHP Cameron Allen, RHP Cory Malcolm, INF/RHP Tanner Rockwell, OF Ryan Scott, OF Petr Sila, RHP Sam Thoele, OF Sam Vogel.
TOP NEWCOMERS INF Kyle Barrett, INF James Gillian, OF Ryan McSwain.
SCOUTING REPORT UALR has a new coach, but it’s not a total rebuild. Coach Chris Curry, a Conway native who spent two seasons as a volunteer assistant at Arkansas, kept most of the players who scuffled to a 25-29 overall and 11-19 Sun Belt record last year. Led by utility player Tanner Rockwell, the Trojans return five position players who played in at least 35 games last year. Rockwell hit .321 with 7 home runs and 43 RBI last year and pitched out of the bullpen. Rockwell could start at shortstop because of a shoulder injury to James Gillian, and Rockwell also will be the team’s closer. Senior Cameron Allen (5-6, 4.07 ERA, 79 2/3 innings) will start today’s season opener, and junior Sam Thoele (1-3, 3.70 ERA, 482/3 innings) will pitch Saturday. Curry said Cory Malcolm will return to the rotation when he recovers from shoulder tightness.
QUOTING CHRIS CURRY “On a championship club there’s depth. If we have an injury, it’s going to domino effect two or three positions and then a certain guy has to move here and here and there. That’s a huge issue. Our pitching depth is an issue.”
SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT TIME
Feb. 13 Evansville 3 p.m. Feb. 14 Evansville Noon Feb. 15 Evansville 1 p.m. Feb. 17 at Central Arkansas 6 p.m. Feb. 20 Iowa 3 p.m. Feb. 21 Missouri State 3:30 p.m. Feb. 22 Iowa Noon Feb. 24 at Stephen F. Austin 6:30 p.m. Feb. 27 SIU-Edwardsville 3 p.m. Feb. 28 SIU-Edwardsville 2 p.m. March 1 SIU-Edwardsville 1 p.m. March 3 at Oklahoma 6 p.m. March 6 at South Alabama * 6:30 p.m. March 7 at South Alabama * 6:30 p.m. March 8 at South Alabama * 1 p.m. March 11 at Wichita State 3 p.m. March 13 Louisiana-Lafayette * 6 p.m. March 14 Louisiana-Lafayette * 2 p.m. March 15 Louisiana-Lafayette * 1 p.m. March 17 at Missouri State 3:05 p.m. March 18 Louisiana Tech 6 p.m. March 20 at Troy * 6 p.m. March 21 at Troy * 6 p.m. March 22 at Troy * 1 p.m. March 24 Oral Roberts 6 p.m. March 27 Appalachian State * 6 p.m. March 28 Appalachian State * 2 p.m. March 29 Appalachian State * 1 p.m. March 31 Stephen F. Austin 6 p.m. April 3 at Georgia State * 5 p.m. April 4 at Georgia State * 1 p.m. April 5 at Georgia State * Noon April 8 at Louisiana Tech 6 p.m. April 10 Texas State * 6 p.m. April 11 Texas State * 2 p.m. April 12 Texas State * 1 p.m. April 14 at Missouri 4 p.m. April 17 Georgia Southern * 6 p.m. April 18 Georgia Southern * 2 p.m. April 19 Georgia Southern * 1 p.m. April 21 at Oral Roberts 6:30 p.m. April 24 at Indiana State 5:30 p.m. April 25 at Indiana State 5:30 p.m. April 26 at Indiana State Noon April 28 at Oklahoma State 6 p.m. May 1 at Texas-Arlington * 6:30 p.m. May 2 at Texas-Arlington * 2 p.m. May 3 at Texas-Arlington * 1 p.m. May 8 Louisiana-Monroe * 6 p.m. May 9 Louisiana-Monroe * 2 p.m. May 10 Louisiana-Monroe * 1 p.m. May 12 Central Arkansas 6 p.m. May 14 at Arkansas State * 6:30 p.m. May 15 at Arkansas State * 6 p.m. May 16 at Arkansas State * 1 p.m. May 20-24 Sun Belt Tournament& TBA *Sun Belt game &at Troy, Ala.
Central Arkansas
COACH Allen Gum (123-103 in fifth season at Central Arkansas, 349-171 in 10th season overall) 2014 RECORD 32-22 overall, 17-13 in Southland 2015 SEASON OPENER 2 p.m. today vs. Grambling State in Monroe, La.
TOP RETURNERS INF Matt Anderson, INF Chris Townsend, OF Nick Rogeau, RHP Connor Gilmore. TOP NEWCOMERS C/INF Travis Hull, INF Logan Preston, 1B Jacob Richardson
SCOUTING REPORT Central Arkansas has its top pitcher locked down, and that’s a good start. Connor Gilmore (7-3, 2.98 ERA, 14 starts) returns to lead the pitching staff, but behind him will likely be newcomers. Andrew Kemmerer and Brandon Hagerla, both junior-college transfers, will get first crack in the rotation behind Gilmore. UCA will likely start newcomers at catcher, first base and shortstop. Travis Hull, a junior-college transfer, will start at catcher, while Logan Preston, a transfer from Louisiana-Lafayette, will play shortstop and Jacob Richardson, a freshman from Woodlawn, will play first base. The Bears finished sixth in the league last year and were picked sixth and seventh in the two preseason polls.
QUOTING ALLEN GUM “Hopefully we’re one of the top three or five teams. That’s another jump our program needs to make. It’s hard just getting to the tournament, but also like getting to a point where we’re fighting for that overall conference championship. We want to be there.”
SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT TIME
Feb. 13 Grambling State^ 2 p.m. Feb. 14 Louisiana-Monroe^ 6 p.m. Feb. 15 Indiana State^ Noon Feb. 17 UALR 6 p.m. Feb. 20 Eastern Illinois 4 p.m. Feb. 21 Memphis 4 p.m. Feb. 22 Eastern Illinois 1 p.m. Feb. 25 at Ole Miss 4 p.m. Feb. 27 at Missouri State 3 p.m. Feb. 28 at Missouri State 2 p.m. March 1 at Missouri State 1 p.m. March 3 at Missouri TBA March 4 at Missouri TBA March 6 at Stephen F. Austin * TBA March 7 at Stephen F. Austin * TBA March 8 at Stephen F. Austin * TBA March 10 at Wichita State 3 p.m. March 13 Lamar * 6 p.m. March 14 Lamar * 4 p.m. March 15 Lamar * 1 p.m. March 17 at Oklahoma State 6 p.m. March 20 at Houston Baptist * 2 p.m. March 21 at Houston Baptist * 1 p.m. March 22 at Houston Baptist * 2 p.m. March 27 Sam Houston State * 6 p.m. March 28 Sam Houston State * 4 p.m. March 29 Sam Houston State * 1 p.m. March 31 at Oklahoma 6 p.m. April 2 at Southern Illinois 6:30 p.m. April 3 at Southern Illinois 1 p.m. April4 at Southern Illinois 2 p.m. April 7 Arkansas-Pine Bluff 6 p.m. April 10 Nicholls State * 6 p.m. April 11 Nicholls State * 4 p.m. April 12 Nicholls State * 1 p.m. April 14 at Arkansas State 6:30 p.m. April 17 at Northwestern State * 6:30 p.m. April 18 at Northwestern State * 2 p.m. April 19 at Northwestern State * 1 p.m. April 21 at Arkansas-Pine Bluff 3 p.m. April 24 New Orleans * 6 p.m. April 25 New Orleans * 4 p.m. April 26 New Orleans * 1 p.m. May 1 at Incarnate Word * 6:30 p.m. May 2 at Incarnate Word * 3 p.m. May 3 at Incarnate Word * 1 p.m. May 5 Arkansas State 6 p.m. May 8 at SE Louisiana TBA May 9 at SE Louisiana TBA May 10 at SE Louisiana TBA May 12 at UALR 6 p.m. May 14 McNeese State * 6 p.m. May 15 McNeese State * 6 p.m. May 16 McNeese State * 1 p.m. May 20-23 Southland tournament& TBA *Southland Conference
^at Monroe, La.
&at Sugar Land, Texas
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
COACH Carlos James (62-132-1 in fifth season at UAPB, 90-210-2 in eighth season overall)
2014 RECORD 22-28 overall, 16-7 SWAC
2015 SEASON OPENER 3 p.m. today at McNeese State in Lake Charles, La.
TOP RETURNERS 1B Andre Davis, INF Josh Cassidy, OF/RHP Jeremiah Figueroa, RHP Kevin Walsh.
TOP NEWCOMERS LHP Blake Estep, RHP C.J. Bahn, RHP Billy Olson.
SCOUTING REPORT UAPB is coming off a SWAC Western Division championship but was picked third in the division by league coaches considering its turnover. Three of UAPB’s top hitters are gone, leaving first baseman Andre Davis (.289, 2 home runs, 24 RBI) and third baseman Josh Cassidy (.238, 1 home run, 20 RBI) to anchor the lineup. UAPB’s starting rotation is new, too. James said Billy Olson, a transfer from College of the Desert (Palm Desert, Calif.), will start today. C.J. Bahn, a transfer from Chandler-Gilbert (Ariz.) Community College, and Blake Estep, a transfer from Penn State, also will start in the rotation. Preseason second-team All-SWAC selection Kevin Walsh (2.57 ERA, 5 saves, 24 appearances) will anchor the bullpen as the closer.
QUOTING CARLOS JAMES “My competitive side is really upset about [being picked third]. I feel like our kids have worked hard and earned the right to defend what they accomplished last year. I thought we did a good job of recruiting as well.”
SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT TIME
Feb. 13 at McNeese State 6 p.m. Feb. 14 at McNeese State 3 p.m. Feb. 15 at McNeese State 1 p.m. Feb. 17 Lemoyne-Owen (DH) Noon Feb. 20 at Louisiana-Tech 6 p.m. Feb. 21 at Louisiana Tech 2 p.m. Feb. 22 at Louisiana Tech 1 p.m. Feb. 25 Central Baptist College 1 p.m. Feb. 28 Texas Southern (DH) * Noon March 1 Texas Southern * 1 p.m. March 3 at Mississippi State 6:30 p.m. March 7 at Prairie View (DH) * Noon March 8 at Prairie View * 1 p.m. March 10 Jarvis (Texas) Christian (DH) Noon March 14 Southern (DH) * Noon March 15 Southern * 1 p.m. March 17 at Lemoyne-Owen 1 p.m. March 18 at Ole Miss 6:30 p.m. March 21 at Grambling State (DH) * Noon March 22 at Grambling State * 1 p.m. March 24 at Missouri TBA March 25 at Missouri TBA March 27 at New Orleans TBA March 28 at New Orleans TBA March 29 at New Orleans TBA April 1 Alcorn State 2 p.m. April 4 at Texas Southern (DH) * Noon April 5 at Texas Southern * 1 p.m. April 7 at Central Arkansas 6 p.m. April 8 at Alcorn State * 3 p.m. April 11 Prairie View A&M (DH) * Noon April 12 Prairie View A&M * 1 p.m. April 14 Louisiana-Monroe 3 p.m. April 18 at Southern (DH) * Noon April 19 at Southern * 1 p.m. April 21 Central Arkansas 3 p.m. April 25 Grambling State (DH) * Noon April 26 Grambling State * 1 p.m. April 29 at Kansas 6 p.m. *SWAC game