SCHEDULED GAME TIME
Friday, 6 p.m., at Sewell-Thomas Stadium (5,867) in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
RECORDS
Arkansas 29-3, 11-1 SEC
Alabama 22-11, 4-8 SEC
STREAKS
Arkansas won 10
Alabama lost 4
LAST 10 GAMES
Arkansas 10-0
Alabama 4-6
COACHES
Arkansas: Dave Van Horn — 868-444 in 22nd season at Arkansas and 1,188-601 in 30th season overall in Division I.
Alabama: Rob Vaughn — 22-11 in first season at Alabama and 205-128 in seventh season overall.
SERIES HISTORY
Alabama leads 53-48
LAST MEETING
Arkansas defeated Alabama 5-4 on April 2, 2023, to win a best-of-three-game series in Fayetteville.
TELEVISION
The game will be streamed by SEC Network+. It can be accessed on WatchESPN.com and via the ESPN app (carrier login required). Roger Hoover (play-by-play) and Lance Cormier (analyst) will be on the call.
RADIO
Phil Elson will call the game on the Razorback Sports Network, which can be accessed through local FM and AM affiliates, via the Arkansas Razorbacks Gameday app, via the TuneIn app, via the Varsity Network app or on ArkansasRazorbacks.com. Blackouts may apply.
STARTING PITCHERS
Arkansas: LHP Hagen Smith — 6-0, 1.76 ERA, 0.83 WHIP in 41 innings.
Alabama: RHP Ben Hess — 3-2, 6.03 ERA, 1.34 WHIP in 34 1/3 innings.
TEAM COMPARISONS
Earned Run Avg.: Arkansas 2.56; Alabama 5.11
Runs Per Game: Arkansas 7.38; Alabama 8.15
Batting Avg.: Arkansas .288; Alabama .311
Opp. Batting Avg.: Arkansas .188; Alabama .253
Slugging Pct.: Arkansas .480; Alabama .536
On-Base Pct.: Arkansas .408; Alabama .409
Fielding Pct.: Arkansas .981; Alabama .973
FORECAST
According to the National Weather Service, Friday will be clear and breezy with a high of 72 degrees and a low of 46 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. West winds are expected at 10-15 mph.
WHAT TO KNOW
• Arkansas is ranked first and Alabama is unranked in the USA Today Baseball Coaches Poll.
• The Razorbacks were predicted to win the SEC and the Crimson Tide were predicted to finish fourth in the SEC West by coaches.
• Arkansas starter Hagen Smith was named March pitcher of the month earlier this week by Dick Howser Trophy. Smith enters Friday's start ranked first in strikeouts per 9 innings (18.2), fourth in WHIP (0.83) and 11th in ERA (1.76).
• The Crimson Tide have won 17 of 31 series over the Razorbacks as SEC opponents.
• Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe will throw the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game.
• The Crimson Tide's four-game losing streak includes a sweep at Kentucky by a combined score of 23-3 last week and a 5-4 midweek loss to South Alabama at home.
• Sewell-Thomas Stadium dimensions are 320 feet down each line, 360 feet to the alleys and 390 feet to center field.
• Alabama is 16-3 at home this season.
• Arkansas is 2-1 on the road and 4-2 in all games played away from Baum-Walker Stadium.
• The Razorbacks' 11-1 SEC record is tied with Kentucky for the best in the league.
• Alabama has defeated Arkansas by 10 or more runs at least once in each of the last four series, including 12-1 in Game 1 last season.
• Gage Miller leads the Crimson Tide offensively with a .417 batting average, 13 home runs and 41 RBI. Miller has an OPS of 1.325. He was named the Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list April 4.