FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas right hander Caleb Bolden will start the Razorbacks' series opener against Southeast Missouri State on Thursday at Baum-Walker Stadium.
Bolden, who was named SEC co-pitcher of the week Tuesday, earned a four-inning save during Arkansas' 4-0 victory over Texas last Sunday. Bolden allowed two base runners on a walk and a hit batter, and struck out seven Longhorns.
It will be Bolden's seventh career start. He started four times as a freshman in 2018, and twice last season as a redshirt sophomore after returning from Tommy John surgery.
The No. 8 Razorbacks (3-0) plan to start their previous weekend's rotation for the other three games — right hander Zebulon Vermillion on Friday, right hander Peyton Pallette on Saturday and left hander Lael Lockhart on Sunday. All three took no-decisions in their first start of the season.
Pallette and Lockhart each struck out eight batters in 4 1/3 innings against Texas and TCU, respectively. Pallette allowed a hit and a walk, but did not allow a run against the Longhorns. Lockhart allowed 1 run, 2 hits and 2 walks against the Horned Frogs.
Vermillion allowed 2 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks in a 4-inning start against Texas Tech. Vermillion struck out four Red Raiders.
SEMO (2-1) plans to start senior left hander Dylan Dodd (1-0, 1.50 ERA) on Thursday; sophomore left hander Noah Niznik (0-0, 0.00) on Friday; and sophomore right hander Ryan Vogt (0-0, 6.00) on Saturday. The Redhawks have not named a starter for Sunday's game.
Dodd pitched six innings in SEMO's season-opening 4-2 victory at South Alabama last week. He allowed 1 run on 3 hits and 1 walk, and struck out 8 batters.
Niznik took a no-decision while pitching 5 1/3 scoreless innings in the Redhawks' 6-5 loss to South Alabama in Game 2, but struggled some with command. Niznik walked four, threw two wild pitches and hit a batter.
Vogt pitched three innings in the finale, which SEMO won 8-6 in 10 innings. He allowed 2 runs on 2 hits and 3 walks.
The first three games of the series are scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Sunday's game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.