Hogs hit the road, pack for long stay

Arkansas players huddle before the Razorbacks play Tennessee Sunday, May 10, 2015, at Baum Stadium.
Arkansas players huddle before the Razorbacks play Tennessee Sunday, May 10, 2015, at Baum Stadium.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas' baseball team started an extended road trip Monday with a bus ride to Omaha, Neb., where the No. 20 Razorbacks play Creighton at 6 tonight.

The Razorbacks then fly from Omaha to Athens, Ga., for a three-game series against the Bulldogs starting on Thursday night.

Tonight’s game

NO. 20 ARKANSAS AT CREIGHTON

WHEN 6 p.m.

WHERE TD Ameritrade Park, Omaha, Neb.

RECORDS Arkansas 30-19, 15-11 SEC; Creighton 27-16, 10-4 Big East

SERIES Arkansas leads 8-5

RADIO Razorbacks Sports Network statewide. Not all games will be carried by all affiliates. Check local listings.

TELEVISION CBS Sports Network

PITCHING MATCHUP Arkansas: James Teague (RHP 3-3, 3.95 ERA). Creighton: Connor Miller (RHP 3-2, 2.76)

SHORT HOPS Arkansas sophomore center fielder Andrew Benintendi leads the SEC in batting average (.405) and home runs (16) and is fourth in RBI (48), trailing the leader, South Carolina’s Kyle Martin, by eight.

THE WEEK AHEAD

TODAY at Creighton 6 p.m.

WEDNESDAY Off

THURSDAY at Georgia 6 p.m.

FRIDAY at Georgia 6 p.m.

SATURDAY at Georgia 6 p.m.

SUNDAY Off

MONDAY Off

It's on to Hoover, Ala., after that, where Arkansas will play in next week's SEC Tournament.

The Razorbacks might have to play an SEC Tournament elimination game Tuesday, depending on the outcome of this weekend's series, or get a first-round bye and start on Wednesday when the format becomes double elimination.

It could be a two-week trip for Arkansas, if it has a good SEC Tournament like it did last season when it played five games.

"Don't forget underwear," Arkansas senior left fielder Joe Serrano said.

Arkansas (30-19, 15-11 SEC) will play Creighton (27-16, 14-10 Big East) at TD Ameritrade Park, site of the College World Series June 13-23. Tonight's game will be televised on the CBS Sports Network.

Arkansas hopes to make a return trip to Omaha next month to compete for the national title, but Coach Dave Van Horn said scheduling tonight's game isn't about providing motivation to make the College World Series. He has no plans for a "Let's get back to Omaha" speech.

Van Horn said the primary reason Arkansas is playing at Creighton is because the Bluejays will return the game and play at Baum Stadium next April.

"It's really hard to get teams to come down here and play us in April," Van Horn said. "That's what they're doing next year. That worked out.

"This isn't about playing at the ballpark. To me, you've got to really earn your way to that ballpark to play in the Series. ... Obviously, if we were to get back, that'd be fantastic."

Serrano noted that TD Ameritrade Park is a big ballpark.

"It's a graveyard honestly," he said. "Hopefully, the new balls help a little bit."

Arkansas' probable starter tonight is sophomore right-hander James Teague (3-3, 3.95 ERA), but Van Horn said he expects to use several pitchers, including Jackson Lowery and Jackson Stone. He wants a full bullpen available for the Georgia series.

"I think you'll see a little bit of everybody," Van Horn said. "It could be scripted out a little bit where we probably don't use somebody too much. Guys can get some work, but also be ready to go on the weekend."

Van Horn is 10-3 as a head coach against Creighton, including 8-3 at Nebraska and 2-0 with the Razorbacks.

"When I was at Nebraska, playing Creighton was very stressful to be honest with you," Van Horn said. "It was definitely a rivalry, and it's still a rivalry.

"They're not fond of each other. It was pretty intense. We had some battles with them, some crazy games won in the last inning."

The last time Arkansas played Creighton, the Razorbacks beat the Bluejays 6-0 in a 2007 NCAA regional game at Baum Stadium.

The Razorbacks beat Creighton 9-5 in Van Horn's first game as Arkansas coach on Feb. 11, 2003 at Baum Stadium.

"That was a game that wasn't originally on the schedule," Van Horn said. "We ended up having that, and we played really well here."

Arkansas is hoping to host a regional at Baum Stadium for the first time since 2010, but the Razorbacks likely need to win tonight, sweep the Georgia series and win at least two games in the SEC Tournament to have any shot.

"We're just going to keep competing, and hopefully we can play here again," Serrano said.

Sports on 05/12/2015

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