Vanderbilt (19-13, 5-7 Southeastern Conference) will travel to Fayetteville this weekend for a three-game series with the No. 1 Arkansas Razorbacks (24-6, 10-2).
Arkansas, fresh off an impressive two-game series sweep of then-No. 1 Arizona State on Tuesday and Wednesday, will look to keep building momentum with the Commodores in town. Vanderbilt, after taking two of three from then No. 21 Florida last weekend in a confidence boosting series, dropped their mid-week game against Middle Tennessee State University 8-0 in frigid temperatures on Tuesday night in Murfreesboro.
"The good thing about baseball," said Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin in the weekly SEC coaches teleconference on Thursday morning, "is you get to redeem yourself right away."
Vanderbilt will have its work cut out for them as it looks for redemption on the road against the Razorbacks, playing in one of the premier, and most hostile, environments in collegiate baseball.
"Arkansas is tough to beat at home," Corbin said.
The Razorbacks set an attendance record with their 8-7 victory over Arizona State at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville with an announced crowd of 11,014 for Wednesday night's game.
"The fans were a big part of both wins against Arizona State and we appreciate the support that we've had all season," said Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn.
A large and rowdy crowd won't be the only obstacle Vanderbilt will have to overcome if they hope to win their second straight series against a ranked conference opponent.
"They have an aggressive coach who does a nice job with his team," Corbin said.
The Razorbacks currently lead the SEC and have been on an absolute tear in conference play en route to their first top ranking in program history.
While Arkansas has not posted gaudy offensive statistics on their way to the top of the conference standings, the Razorbacks have a knack for generating runs in the late innings.
"It seems like we've been doing that a lot lately," Van Horn said on his team's successful rallies in both games against Arizona State.
Vanderbilt batters, who have struggled against Friday night starters in the SEC, will have to find a way to build and sustain a lead if they hope to have any success in Fayetteville.
The Commodores figure to face Arkansas ace Dallas Keuchel in Friday night's game. Keuchel boasts a 5-0 record with a 3.45 ERA in seven appearances this season. Mike Minor will be the probable starter for Vanderbilt, coming in at 2-3 on the season with a 3.55 ERA in seven appearances as well.
"We know we've got our hands full with Minor Friday night," Van Horn said.
Caleb Cotham and T.J. Forrest will be Saturday's probable starters for the Commodores and Razorbacks, respectively. Cotham has been Vanderbilt's most consistent starter, at 4-3, with a 3.92 ERA while earning a decision in each of his seven appearances. Forrest is 2-2 with a 4.32 ERA in seven appearances this season.
Vanderbilt has struggled to find a Sunday starter since the beginning of SEC play, as Nick Christiani, at 3-2 with a 6.51 ERA, has been less than stellar since his win at Kentucky on March 22. Taylor Hill, the Sunday starter against Florida, went only three innings before giving way to reliever Sean Bierman.
Justin Wells will make his first start on Sunday for the Razorbacks according to Van Horn.
"We want an experienced pitcher on the mound. The players trust him," the coach said of Wells who is 1-0 in 13 relief appearances this season with a 3.51 ERA.
Freshman Sonny Gray, who is 2-0 with a miniscule 1.83 ERA in 12 relief appearances for the Commodores this season, figures to play a prominent role in this weekend's series. Gray possesses an overpowering fastball, and if he is able to locate his curveball, has proven to be nearly unhittable, giving up 15 hits and striking out 19 in just over 19 innings of work.
Arkansas has received excellent work from its deep bullpen this season, owing much of their success to their middle and late relievers, highlighted by closer Stephen Richards who is 4-0 with five saves and a 1.27 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 21 innings of work.
"The kids know their roles," Van Horn said. "We feel good about our bullpen."
