Baxendale named to Team USA

Arkansas pitcher DJ Baxendale pumps his fist and yells in celebration after pitching the Razorbacks to a complete game 4-3 victory over Florida on Thursday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville. Baxendale allowed 7 hits, struck out 7 and walked 1 while throwing 127 pitches.
Arkansas pitcher DJ Baxendale pumps his fist and yells in celebration after pitching the Razorbacks to a complete game 4-3 victory over Florida on Thursday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville. Baxendale allowed 7 hits, struck out 7 and walked 1 while throwing 127 pitches.

— Arkansas pitcher DJ Baxendale has been named to the USA Collegiate National Team for this summer.

Baxendale, a sophomore, was announced as a member of the 22-man roster Tuesday morning. Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn will be an assistant coach for the traveling team, which will play all of its 11 games inside the United States this year.

“It’s a real honor to be selected for the team and to able to represent the University of Arkansas on Team USA,” Baxendale said in a release. “I’m looking forward to playing some tough competition this summer and representing my country on the baseball field.”

Baxendale is 7-1 this season with a 1.58 earned run average. He pitched his first career complete game last Friday in a 4-3 win over No. 4 Florida at Baum Stadium.

Baxendale is the fourth player from Arkansas to be selected to the team in the last six years, joining pitcher Nick Schmidt, third baseman Logan Forsythe and first baseman Andy Wilkins. Baxendale spent last summer playing in the prestigious Cape Cod League, helping Yarmouth-Dennis to a runner-up finish.

“I’m really proud of DJ for being selected by the committee and coaches of the collegiate national team,” Van Horn said in a release. “He’s a great representative for the University of Arkansas and the state of Arkansas. I think it’s well deserved. He’s put up outstanding numbers this year and hopefully he’ll continue that for the rest of the season.”

Baxendale will take the mound again when the No. 17 Razorbacks travel to No. 3 South Carolina this weekend. The first game of that series is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday and will be televised nationally on ESPNU.

Upcoming Events