FAYETTEVILLE — The No. 5 national seed Arkansas Razorbacks will play with their backs against the wall Sunday in an elimination game against Southeast Missouri State in the Fayetteville Regional at Baum-Walker Stadium.
The 4-seed team in the regional, the Redhawks eliminated Louisiana Tech with a 9-3 win on Saturday afternoon to keep their season alive. On the other hand, the Razorbacks were sent to the loser's bracket with a 7-6 loss to 3-seed Kansas State.
“I wouldn't want to play us right now,” Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said after the loss to Kansas State. “Honestly, the way we're swinging the bat and we were fighting at the plate. We gotta go beat Southeast Missouri State tomorrow if we want to get another chance at K State. That's going to be our focus is to figure out how to beat them and they're very offensive. So that's our battle right now.”
Arkansas defeated SEMO, 17-9, behind a 16-hit performance and six home runs to open the regional Friday afternoon. First baseman Ben McLaughlin and catcher Hudson White hit two home runs each in the contest.
The Razorbacks will start sophomore right-handed pitcher Gage Wood (3-1, 3.86 ERA) for Sunday's game against the Redhawks. Wood's last start came on May 17 at Texas A&M, when he allowed three runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and no walks in five innings.
“I expect him to get out there and get after it, or I wouldn't start him,” Van Horn said of Wood.
SEMO, which won the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament, has not yet announced a starting pitcher for Sunday's game against the Razorbacks.
Fayetteville Regional Preview: Southeast Missouri State
Below are details on how to watch Sunday's matchup between Arkansas and Kansas State, plus the betting odds and player props via BetSaracen and starting pitchers.
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How to Watch/Listen
Who: 1-seed Arkansas Razorbacks (44-15) vs. 4-seed SEMO Redhawks (35-26)
When: Sunday, June 2 at 1:00 p.m. CT
Where: Baum-Walker Stadium — Fayetteville, Arkansas
TV/Stream: ESPN+/Watch ESPN
Radio: Learfield Razorback Sports Network (Phil Elson and Bubba Carpenter)
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BetSaracen Odds
Money Line
- Arkansas (-600)
- SEMO (+400)
Player Props
- Gage Wood over 6.5 hits allowed and over 6.5 strikeouts (+325)
- Arkansas team over 9.5 hits allowed and over 10.5 hits (+230)
- Ty Wilmsmeyer over 1.5 hits and over 0.5 stolen bases (+420)
- Kendall Diggs over 0.5 runs scored and over 1.5 strikeouts (+260)
- Hudson White over 0.5 extra base hits and over 0.5 RBIs (+130)
(Alternate lines, spreads, team totals and player props are available on the BetSaracen mobile app.)
(Lines and odds are subject to change at any point after the publishing of this story. HawgBeat does not guarantee any bet as a winner or loser. You must be at least 21 years of age to use BetSaracen. If you have a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net)
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Starting Lineups
Arkansas:
1. Peyton Stovall, 2B
2. Hudson White, DH
3. Jared Sprague-Lott, 3B
4. Ben McLaughlin, 1B
5. Wehiwa Aloy, SS
6. Kendall Diggs, RF
7. Peyton Holt, LF
8. Ryder Helfrick, C
9. Ty Wilmsmeyer, CF
SP: Gage Wood (3-1, 3.86 ERA)
SEMO:
1. Brooks Kettering, 2B
2. Ben Palmer, SS
3. Ty Stauss, DH
4. Josh Cameron, RF
5. Michael Mugan, CF
6. Bryce Cannon, 1B
7. Shea McGahan, C
8. Ian Riley, LF
9. Chance Resetich, 3B
SP: Collin Wilma (2-5, 5.60 ERA)
