FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas will keep the same rotation it has used the last three weeks when No. 2 LSU visits Baum Stadium this weekend.
Junior right-handers Barrett Astin and Ryne Stanek will throw the first two games, followed by senior left-hander Randall Fant on Sunday. The No. 10 Razorbacks have used the same rotation the last three weekends, winning series at South Carolina and Alabama, and at home against Mississippi State.
With that rotation, Arkansas is 3-0 in series openers and 2-1 on each of the other two days.
"They all count the same," Razorbacks coach Dave Van Horn said. "You look at the pitchers for LSU this weekend, you've got Aaron Nola and you've got Ryan Eades, and they're both really good. They're both 90-mile an hour plus right-handers that can locate with good breaking balls. They're both very hard to beat."
WEEKEND PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday: Arkansas RHP Barrett Astin (2-1, 2.31) vs. LSU RHP Aaron Nola (5-0, 2.55)
Saturday: Arkansas RHP Ryne Stanek (3-2, 1.90) vs. LSU RHP Ryan Eades (7-0, 1.30)
Sunday: Arkansas LHP Randall Fant (2-1, 1.71) vs. LSU RHP Cody Glenn (5-1, 3.12)
LSU (32-2) enters the series on a 14-game win streak, including three wins over then-No. 7 Kentucky last week by a combined score of 31-6. The Tigers are sure to give Arkansas' pitching staff its toughest test of the season, ranking in the top 10 nationally in runs scored and batting average.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge of playing at Arkansas - it’s a tough environment and we certainly respect their program, but we’re not going to be in awe of anyone,” LSU coach Paul Mainieri said. “We’ve had some tremendous ball games with them over the years, and this weekend should provide the same type of excitement.”
The Razorbacks have a NCAA-best 1.56 team earned run average entering the weekend. Stanek has been especially impressive in recent weeks, throwing a complete game in a win at South Carolina three weeks ago and eight scoreless innings at Alabama last Friday.
"I think over the last three weeks he's been good," Van Horn said. "Two of those outings, he's been real good. One of the outings he had just one inning that wasn't real good that got his pitch count up. I just feel like, again, he seems to get better as the season goes on, and we're past the midway point and he's starting to come into his own a little bit.
"I like Stanek there. You think about last year where Stanek pitched for us. He pitched in the two hole basically through the playoffs."
The top 10 matchup is the first for Arkansas at Baum Stadium since a three-game series against South Carolina in 2010. The Razorbacks and Tigers have split their last six meetings, with the home team earning a sweep each of the last two years.