Razorbacks Pick up Pair of Midseason Awards In Quest For Omaha
Individual, team success for highly No.1 Razorbacks at the top of SEC West
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. β Almost halfway through the baseball slate, it's hard to imagine the Arkansas baseball season going any better. The Hogs' only three losses are an opening weekend loss to James Madison in 30-degree weather, a 14-inning pitchers' duel to Oklahoma State, and a come from behind win for Auburn in a finale of a road series.
It should come as no surprise the Razorbacks were named Perfect Game's Midseason Team of the Year. The Razorbacks are ranked No. 1 in every major poll and have had no discernable weakness after the line-up got out of its early season doldrums.
Arkansas already has a two-game lead in the SEC West after a sweep of LSU, a division that includes No. 3 Texas A&M, No 13. Alabama, No. 18 LSU and No. 23 Mississippi State.
The team's success is in large part due to Hagen Smith and a dominant pitching staff. Smith also took home Perfect Game's Midseason Pitcher of the Year. His 1.54 ERA in 35 innings pitched is third best in the SEC, which included a stretch of 24 consecutive scoreless innings. The Razorbacks ace allowed three of his six earned runs on the season in the season opener against James Madison in which he allowed a three-run homer in the first inning.
Smith has been far from the only star. The Razorbacks' staff ERA of 2.67 ranks over half a run better than the next best team in the country (UC-San Diego, 3.28). The Hogs are also tied for first nationally in saves (14) and second in strikeouts (337). The emergence of freshmen such as Gabe Gaeckle and Colin Fisher as well as veterans such as Brady Tygart, Will McEntire and Mason Molina all have contributed to the impressive body of work.
Trips to Omaha can't be secured in April, but the Razorbacks are well on their way. Arkansas faces off against Arkansas State 6 p.m. Tuesday. The game will be streamed on SEC Network+.
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