SCHEDULED GAME TIME
Thursday, 6 p.m., at Plainsman Park (4,096) in Auburn, Ala.
RECORDS
Arkansas 17-2, 3-0 SEC; Auburn 14-6, 0-3 SEC
STREAKS
Arkansas won 13; Auburn won 1
LAST 10 GAMES
Arkansas 10-0; Auburn 6-4
COACHES
Arkansas: Dave Van Horn — 856-443 in 22nd season at Arkansas and 1,176-600 in 30th season overall in Division I.
Auburn: Butch Thompson — 270-193-1 in ninth season at Auburn and overall in Division I.
SERIES HISTORY
Arkansas leads 54-49.
LAST MEETING
Arkansas defeated Auburn 5-0 on March 19, 2023, in Fayetteville to sweep a three-game series.
TELEVISION
The game will be televised by SEC Network. It can be accessed on WatchESPN.com and via the ESPN app (carrier login required). Dave Neal (play-by-play) and Gregg Olson (analyst) will be on the call.
RADIO
Kyle Schassburger 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 — 3-0, 1.57 ERA, 0.70 WHIP in 23 innings.
Auburn: RHP Conner McBride — 3-0, 2.41 ERA, 0.86 WHIP in 18 2/3 innings.
TEAM COMPARISONS
Earned Run Avg.: Arkansas 2.35; Auburn 4.96
Runs Per Game: Arkansas 7.79; Auburn 8.40
Batting Avg.: Arkansas .287; Auburn .281
Opp. Batting Avg.: Arkansas .183; Auburn .264
Slugging Pct.: Arkansas .470; Auburn .536
On-Base Pct.: Arkansas .406; Auburn .416
Fielding Pct.: Arkansas .979; Auburn .970
FORECAST
According to the National Weather Service, Thursday will be mostly clear with a high of 75 degrees and a low of 55 in Auburn, Ala. There is a 20% chance of showers after midnight. East winds will be 5-10 mph.
PREGAME CONTENT
WholeHog Baseball Podcast with Matt Jones and Bubba Carpenter
Matt Jones' Week 5 observations
Razorback pitchers have been weekend wizards
Nolan Souza has transitioned from Hawaii in a hurry
WHAT TO KNOW
• Coming into the weekend the Razorbacks ranked first nationally in strikeouts per 9 innings (13.6), strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.64), WHIP (0.97) and ERA (2.35), and second in walks allowed per 9 innings (2.94).
• Arkansas is ranked first and Auburn is ranked 24th in the USA Today Baseball Coaches Poll.
• The Razorbacks were predicted to win the SEC and the Tigers were predicted to finish fifth in the SEC West by coaches.
• Arkansas has won its last five series against Auburn. The Tigers' last series victory over the Razorbacks was at home in 2017. Arkansas won two of three at Auburn in 2019 and 2022.
• Auburn starting pitcher Conner McBride has started mostly midweek games and did not pitch at Vanderbilt last week.
• The Tigers were swept in their SEC-opening series at Vanderbilt by a combined score of 33-12.
• Arkansas starter Hagen Smith has 48 strikeouts and has allowed 1 earned run in his last 22 innings.
• Phil Elson will not be on the Razorback Sports Network broadcast at Auburn. Elson also serves as the play-by-play voice of the Arkansas basketball team, which plays Thursday at Tulsa in the first round of the WBIT. Kyle Schassburger of Learfield will be on the call for the RSN baseball broadcasts.