Quarterfinal Clash Under Stormy Skies
The Arkansas Razorbacks will square off against the Texas Longhorns on Friday at 3 p.m. at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama, in a SEC Tournament quarterfinal that pits the seventh‑seed Razorbacks (37‑19) against the second‑seed Longhorns (40‑12).
Both programs arrive with strong national rankings; the Razorbacks sit at No. 13 and the Longhorns at No. 5 in the USA Today Baseball Coaches Poll, adding extra intrigue to the contest.
Arkansas will start right‑hander Hunter Dietz, who carries a 7‑3 record and a 3.32 ERA, while Texas counters with rookie Cody Howard, who is 0‑0 with a 7.45 ERA.
The game will be televised on the SEC Network, with streaming available through WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app, and the broadcast team will feature Tom Hart, Kyle Peterson and Kris Budden on the play‑by‑play.
On the radio side, Phil Elson and Bubba Carpenter will call the action for the Razorback Sports Network, ensuring fans across platforms can follow every pitch.
Weather forecasts call for cloudy conditions, a high near 80 degrees, a 90 percent chance of showers and possible thunderstorms, and south winds of 5‑10 mph that could gust to 20 mph, a factor that could influence pitching and fielding.
The winner will advance to Saturday’s semifinals, where they could meet either third‑seeded Texas A&M or sixth‑seeded Auburn, making this quarterfinal a pivotal step toward the tournament title.
Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn and Texas mentor Jim Schlossnagle have guided their teams through a demanding season, and both are eager to add another chapter to their programs’ storied histories.