Going to go ahead and preview the match-up today.
Game Times:
Friday 6 PM
Saturday 2 PM
Sunday 1 PM
All 3 games will be on Cox Sports/ESPN+.
Eric Sorenson with D1Baseball.com will be in Ruston to take in the series.
Arkansas is 10-0 in the early going. Tech is 8-3.
Arkansas was picked to finish 3rd in the SEC West behind Ole Miss & Mississippi State in the preseason.
Pitching Probables:
Friday -- LHP Jonathan Fincher (2-0, 1.20) vs RHP Peyton Pallette (1-0, 1.35)
Saturday -- RHP Ryan Jennings (1-0, 3.65) vs RHP Zebulan Vermillion (0-0, 3.86)
Sunday -- RHP Jarret Whorff (2-0, 2.76) vs LHP Lael Lockhart (1-0, 2.77)
Top 2021 Draft Prospects:
#8 in SEC -- OF Christian Franklin
#27 in SEC -- SS Jalen Battles
#34 in SEC -- C Casey Opitz
#37 in SEC -- RHP Zebulan Vermillion
#44 in SEC -- LHP Patrick Wicklander
#46 in SEC -- RHP Elijah Trest
Top 2022 Draft Prospects:
#10 in SEC -- RHP Peyton Pallette
#12 in SEC -- 2B/SS Robert Moore
#22 in SEC -- RHP Nate Wholgemuth
#38 in SEC -- RHP Blake Adams
#42 in SEC -- LHP Zack Morris
They have talent.
Impact Freshmen:
3B/OF Cayden Wallace
RHP Jaxson Wiggins
RHP Nate Wholgemuth
Top Hitters:
C Casey Opitz -- good middle of the order type of bat, hitting .379 in the early going, as good of a defensive catcher as you'll find in college baseball
DH Matt Goodheart -- tons of power, was injured early in the year, but he's back, hitting .316 with 1 home run in 5 games
OF Braydon Webb -- off to a really slow start 1/18 (.056), but DVH mentioned trying to get him going this weekend, really good athlete
2B/SS Robert Moore -- really mature hitter, good approach, hitting .375 with 3 home runs, 8 RBI, 5 stolen bases
OF Christian Franklin -- probably the best pure hitter on the team, likely a 1st round draft pick, hitting .308 with 3 home runs, 11 RBI
IF Brady Slavens -- hitting .316 with 4 home runs and 11 RBI early on, started career at Wichita State, good left-handed hitter with power
Top Pitchers:
RHP Peyton Pallette -- will be up to 98, has wipeout stuff, he'll be a big leaguer
RHP Zebulan Vermillion -- has been inconsistent early on, DVH wants to see more velocity this weekend, he's been in low 90s to this point, pretty good slider, can struggle with command
LHP Lael Lockhart -- transfer from Houston where he was the Friday night guy, he'll sit in the low 90s, looking for more consistency with breaking ball
LHP Patrick Wicklander -- weekend starter last year, will be 93-94 with his fastball, hasn't allowed a run through 6 innings
RHP Connor Noland -- weekend starter last year, will be 90-92, good command, played QB for the football team early on in career
RHP Kevin Kopps -- experienced RHP that will sit in low 90s, curveball heavy guy
LHP Caden Monke -- has 5 appearances early on, will be up to 93 with his heater
RHP Elijah Trest -- 95-97 w/ his heater, breaking ball is still developing
RHP Ryan Costieu -- JC transfer, mid 90s fastball, also has 5 appearances
Defense:
They've only committed 5 errors in 10 games.
Overall:
Big challenge for the Diamond Dogs this weekend.
Game Times:
Friday 6 PM
Saturday 2 PM
Sunday 1 PM
All 3 games will be on Cox Sports/ESPN+.
Eric Sorenson with D1Baseball.com will be in Ruston to take in the series.
Arkansas is 10-0 in the early going. Tech is 8-3.
Arkansas was picked to finish 3rd in the SEC West behind Ole Miss & Mississippi State in the preseason.
Pitching Probables:
Friday -- LHP Jonathan Fincher (2-0, 1.20) vs RHP Peyton Pallette (1-0, 1.35)
Saturday -- RHP Ryan Jennings (1-0, 3.65) vs RHP Zebulan Vermillion (0-0, 3.86)
Sunday -- RHP Jarret Whorff (2-0, 2.76) vs LHP Lael Lockhart (1-0, 2.77)
Top 2021 Draft Prospects:
#8 in SEC -- OF Christian Franklin
#27 in SEC -- SS Jalen Battles
#34 in SEC -- C Casey Opitz
#37 in SEC -- RHP Zebulan Vermillion
#44 in SEC -- LHP Patrick Wicklander
#46 in SEC -- RHP Elijah Trest
Top 2022 Draft Prospects:
#10 in SEC -- RHP Peyton Pallette
#12 in SEC -- 2B/SS Robert Moore
#22 in SEC -- RHP Nate Wholgemuth
#38 in SEC -- RHP Blake Adams
#42 in SEC -- LHP Zack Morris
They have talent.
Impact Freshmen:
3B/OF Cayden Wallace
RHP Jaxson Wiggins
RHP Nate Wholgemuth
Top Hitters:
C Casey Opitz -- good middle of the order type of bat, hitting .379 in the early going, as good of a defensive catcher as you'll find in college baseball
DH Matt Goodheart -- tons of power, was injured early in the year, but he's back, hitting .316 with 1 home run in 5 games
OF Braydon Webb -- off to a really slow start 1/18 (.056), but DVH mentioned trying to get him going this weekend, really good athlete
2B/SS Robert Moore -- really mature hitter, good approach, hitting .375 with 3 home runs, 8 RBI, 5 stolen bases
OF Christian Franklin -- probably the best pure hitter on the team, likely a 1st round draft pick, hitting .308 with 3 home runs, 11 RBI
IF Brady Slavens -- hitting .316 with 4 home runs and 11 RBI early on, started career at Wichita State, good left-handed hitter with power
Top Pitchers:
RHP Peyton Pallette -- will be up to 98, has wipeout stuff, he'll be a big leaguer
RHP Zebulan Vermillion -- has been inconsistent early on, DVH wants to see more velocity this weekend, he's been in low 90s to this point, pretty good slider, can struggle with command
LHP Lael Lockhart -- transfer from Houston where he was the Friday night guy, he'll sit in the low 90s, looking for more consistency with breaking ball
LHP Patrick Wicklander -- weekend starter last year, will be 93-94 with his fastball, hasn't allowed a run through 6 innings
RHP Connor Noland -- weekend starter last year, will be 90-92, good command, played QB for the football team early on in career
RHP Kevin Kopps -- experienced RHP that will sit in low 90s, curveball heavy guy
LHP Caden Monke -- has 5 appearances early on, will be up to 93 with his heater
RHP Elijah Trest -- 95-97 w/ his heater, breaking ball is still developing
RHP Ryan Costieu -- JC transfer, mid 90s fastball, also has 5 appearances
Defense:
They've only committed 5 errors in 10 games.
Overall:
Big challenge for the Diamond Dogs this weekend.
