FAYETTEVILLE -- A game in Memphis last season began a turnaround for Arkansas' struggling baseball team.
The Razorbacks (19-9, 4-5 SEC) hope for a similar result when they play Memphis (10-17, 1-2 American Athletic Conference) at 6:30 tonight at AutoZone Park, home of the Class AAA Memphis Redbirds.
"It'd be nice to get back on the right path heading to Ole Miss," Arkansas center field Clark Eagan said. "Get that winning feeling back in our dugout before we play another SEC series."
The Razorbacks, who play Mississippi at Oxford, Miss., this weekend, were 11-12 last season before they beat Memphis 7-2 at AutoZone Park. That started a 29-11 stretch for Arkansas -- including 16-7 in SEC play -- that propelled the Razorbacks to the College World Series.
Arkansas looked like a College World Series contender with an 8-0 start this season, highlighted by victories in Houston over Rice, Houston and Texas Tech. Since then the Razorbacks are 11-9, including 1-3 last week when they lost at Oklahoma State and lost two of three games at home to Missouri.
The Tigers were 0-7 in SEC play after losing to Arkansas 7-6 Friday, but they came back to beat the Razorbacks 8-5 and 10-1. The victories were the first for Missouri over Arkansas since 1991 and ended the Tigers' 10-game losing streak in the series.
It was the first time the Razorbacks lost a home weekend series in more than a year and adds to their sense of urgency.
"We really do need to get a win," Razorbacks Coach Dave Van Horn said. "You don't want to lose three in a row going into a hostile environment like they have in Oxford."
Freshman right-hander Isaiah Campbell (2-0, 6.14 ERA) will start for Arkansas tonight against Memphis freshman right-hander Jonathan Bowlan (1-2, 3.00 ERA). It will be the fifth game for Campbell and first appearance since he pitched an inning at South Carolina on March 18 and allowed 1 hit and 1 run.
Van Horn said other pitchers in the mix to go tonight are freshmen Weston Rogers, Anthony Dahl and Jake Reindl. Some relievers who are part of the SEC bullpen group such as Josh Alberius and Doug Willey may get an inning to stay sharp for the Ole Miss series.
"We're going to try to win the game, but get some guys some work and have guys fresh for the weekend," Van Horn said. "We've got enough arms. It's just a matter of them throwing for an inning or two."
The Razorbacks are ranked No. 21 in this week's USA Today coaches' poll, but they're No. 131 -- and last among 14 SEC teams -- in the NCAA's Ratings Percentage Index, a ranking based on a team's record and strength of schedule.
Arkansas has victories over three teams in the RPI top 50: against No. 17 Rice, No. 29 Texas Tech and No. 50 Houston at a neutral site. The Razorbacks also have home losses to No. 92 Missouri, No. 118 Louisiana Tech and No. 248 Eastern Illinois, as well as No. 33 Gonzaga.
The Razorbacks swept a three-game series at home against Auburn, but the Tigers are No. 128 in the RPI rankings. Home victories over Western Illinois (No. 225), Eastern Illinois, Central Michigan (No. 251), Grambling (No. 261) and Mississippi Valley State (No. 299) actually may drag down the Razorbacks' RPI because those opponents are ranked so low.
Arkansas has missed on opportunities for road victories against top 20 RPI teams, going 0-3 at South Carolina (No. 3) and losing at Oklahoma State (No. 19).
Memphis is No. 224.
"It's like I told the players, the RPI will take care of itself," Van Horn said. "Especially with all the games we have coming up against teams that are ranked."
Ole Miss is No. 7 in the RPI rankings. Arkansas' other remaining SEC series opponents are RPI No. 1 Florida, No. 11 Texas A&M, No. 20 LSU, No. 25 Kentucky, No. 26 Mississippi State and No. 58 Alabama. The Razorbacks also have a rematch with Oklahoma State at home and play No. 34 Creighton.
"We just have to start winning games," Van Horn said. "If we win games, it'll move up quick.
"As the season winds down, anytime you have a chance to improve your RPI, you need to do it."
Sports on 04/06/2016