SCHEDULED GAME TIME
Thursday, 6 p.m., at Baum-Walker Stadium (11,531) in Fayetteville
RECORDS
Arkansas 20-3, 5-1 SEC; LSU 20-6, 2-4 SEC
STREAKS
Arkansas won 1; LSU won 1
LAST 10 GAMES
Arkansas 9-1; LSU 6-4
COACHES
Arkansas: Dave Van Horn — 859-444 in 22nd season at Arkansas and 1,179-601 in 30th season overall in Division I.
LSU: Jay Johnson — 114-45 in third season at LSU and 394-201 in 11th season overall in Division I.
SERIES HISTORY
LSU leads 77-41
LAST MEETING
Arkansas defeated LSU 5-4 on May 25, 2023, at the SEC Tournament in Hoover, Ala.
TELEVISION
The game will be televised by ESPN2. It can be accessed on WatchESPN.com and via the ESPN app (carrier login required). Tom Hart (play-by-play) and Kyle Peterson (analyst) will be on the call.
RADIO
Phil Elson (play-by-play) and Bubba Carpenter (analyst) 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 — 4-0, 1.24 ERA, 0.72 WHIP in 29 innings.
LSU: LHP Javen Coleman — 2-0, 4.60 ERA, 1.28 WHIP in 15 2/3 innings.
TEAM COMPARISONS
Earned Run Avg.: Arkansas 2.50; LSU 4.04
Runs Per Game: Arkansas 7.48; LSU 7.50
Batting Avg.: Arkansas .279; LSU .293
Opp. Batting Avg.: Arkansas .188; LSU .227
Slugging Pct.: Arkansas .469; LSU .495
On-Base Pct.: Arkansas .401; LSU .424
Fielding Pct.: Arkansas .977; LSU .976
FORECAST
According to the National Weather Service, Thursday will be clear with a high of 65 degrees and a low of 46 in Fayetteville. South winds will blow 5-10 mph.
WHAT TO KNOW
• Arkansas starter Hagen Smith is the reigning SEC pitcher of the week after he pitched 6 scoreless innings with 3 hits, 2 walks and 12 strikeouts at Auburn.
• LSU starter Javen Coleman allowed 3 runs, 3 hits — including 2 home runs — and 1 walk in 2 innings against Florida last Sunday in his first SEC outing. Coleman has 16 strikeouts and 12 walks in 15 2/3 innings.
• LSU is holding its ace, right-hander Luke Holman, for the second game of the series Friday. Holman was the Dick Howser Trophy national pitcher of the month in February and and allowed 1 run and 1 hit with 13 strikeouts last week vs. Florida.
• Arkansas is ranked first and LSU is ranked seventh in the USA Today Baseball Coaches Poll.
• The Razorbacks were predicted to win the SEC and the Tigers were predicted to finish second in the SEC West by coaches.
• LSU has won 24 of 31 regular-season series against Arkansas since the Razorbacks joined the SEC in 1992. Arkansas had won three consecutive series over the Tigers prior to last season when LSU swept a doubleheader following a Game 1 loss. The Tigers have not won a series in Fayetteville since 2017.
• The Tigers won the 2023 College World Series championship. Arkansas has won a series over the reigning national champion the past two seasons, Mississippi State in 2022 and Ole Miss last season.
• Arkansas won its first two SEC series vs. Missouri and Auburn. LSU lost its first two SEC series vs. Mississippi State and Florida.