FAYETTEVILLE -- After Oklahoma State defeated Arkansas 5-4 earlier this season in a battle of top-20 teams, the Cowboys and Razorbacks fell into funks.
Arkansas' loss in Stillwater, Okla., touched off a tailspin that led to nine losses in a 12-game span.
Today’s game
Arkansas vs. No. 22 Oklahoma State
WHEN 5 p.m.
WHERE Baum Stadium, Fayetteville
RECORDS Arkansas 24-16; Oklahoma State 25-14
RADIO Razorback Sports Network. Not all games will be carried by affiliates. Check local listings.
SERIES Oklahoma State leads 24-17
LAST MEETING Oklahoma State won 5-4 in Stillwater, Okla., on March 29
PITCHING MATCHUP Oklahoma State RHP Michael Mertz (1-2, 4.12) or TBA; Arkansas RHP Isaiah Campbell (3-0, 3.38 ERA)
SHORT HOPS The Razorbacks are No. 92 in the latest RPI rankings, while Oklahoma State is No. 25. … Arkansas ranks 105th nationally in team batting average (.280), 145th in team earned-run average (4.57) and 39th in fielding percentage (.975). Oklahoma State is 238th in team batting average (.252), 17th in team ERA (3.02) and 78th in fielding percentage (.972). … Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said he intended to stick with recent lineup changes for defensive purposes that have put Cody Scroggins at third base, Carson Shaddy at center field and Clark Eagan at first base.
The Cowboys lost six of their next seven games after beating the Hogs.
Now both teams appear to be on the rebound as they meet again today at 5 p.m. at Baum Stadium. The game was moved up from its original start time due to the chance of severe weather in the region this evening.
The Razorbacks (24-16) have rallied back from that 3-9 stretch with three victories in their past four games, including back-to-back shutouts in taking 2 of 3 games at No. 12 Kentucky last weekend.
"Just winning that series was awesome for us, our RPI and stuff like that," said junior pitcher Dominic Taccolini, who was named co-pitcher of the week in the SEC for his 10-inning shutout of the Wildcats on Friday.
"That was a big weekend for us, having three close games and playing good baseball right now," junior Clark Eagan said.
The No. 22 Cowboys, whose 5-4 victry over Arkansas on March 29 was their ninth consecutive victory in a one-run game, lost their next two games by one run to West Virginia and have gone 7-7 since defeating the Hogs.
The Cowboys got back on track the past two weekends. After sweeping Baylor on the road two weeks ago, the Cowboys won 2 of 3 from No. 4 TCU, outscoring the Horned Frogs 26-18 in the high-scoring series.
Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said his players know they have to finish hot to have a chance of extending the Razorbacks' streak of 14 consecutive NCAA regional appearances.
"Oh yeah, they know," Van Horn said. "We don't even talk about it anymore. We just talk about what we've talked about the last couple weeks, and that's trying to win the game we're playing that day and go from there.
"But they know where we're at. They know there's a window that's closing and we've got to try to keep it open as long as we can."
The Razorbacks will send freshman right-hander Isaiah Campbell (3-0, 3.38 ERA) to the mound today on a limited pitch count.
"We want to have him available for the weekend," Van Horn said. "There's maybe even a possibility where he may get a chance to start Game 3."
Oklahoma State is likely to pitch Michael Mertz (1-2, 4.12 ERA), who allowed one run in two innings of a 4-3 victory at Oklahoma last Wednesday.
Van Horn said the Razorbacks have four tough series against SEC West opponents remaining, as well as difficult mid-week games against Oklahoma State and Missouri State.
"Basically, our weeks from here on out are all the same," he said. "We play a really good team on Tuesday and outstanding teams on the weekend. For us to continue to do what we did last week, we're going to have to continue to pitch well and hopefully that'll start tomorrow night."
The Razorbacks have four regulars hitting .300 or better, Carson Shaddy (.336), Luke Bonfield (.333), Clark Eagan (.313) and Cullen Gassaway (.308).
The Cowboys have three regulars batting .300 or better: Donnie Walton (.354), J.R. Davis (.351) and Garrett Benge (.307).
Sports on 04/26/2016