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Arkansas vs Vanderbilt: 2022 SEC Baseball series preview, TV schedule

By Matt Melton

FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - MAY 20: Cayden Wallace #7 of the Arkansas Razorbacks at bat during a game against the Florida Gators at Baum-Walker Stadium at George Cole Field on May 20, 2021 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Gators 6-1. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - MAY 20: Cayden Wallace #7 of the Arkansas Razorbacks at bat during a game against the Florida Gators at Baum-Walker Stadium at George Cole Field on May 20, 2021 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Gators 6-1. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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2022 SEC Baseball Series Preview: No. 4 Arkansas vs No. 24 Vanderbilt

When: Friday, May 13 – Sunday, May 15

Location: Baum-Walker Stadium, Fayetteville, AR

With the 2022 SEC Baseball Tournament a little under two weeks away, No. 4 Arkansas welcomes No. 24 Vanderbilt to Baum-Walker Stadium this weekend for the conference’s lone series between Top 25 ranked teams.

Start Times

Game 1: Friday, May 13 at 7:30 PM ET on SEC Network+

Game 2: Saturday, May 14 at 7:30 PM ET on SEC Network+

Game 3: Sunday, May 15 at 3:00 PM ET on SEC Network+

The No. 4 team in the country, Arkansas comes into this Top 25 matchup having won their last two weekend series’ against Ole Miss and Auburn. Owning a 36-12 overall record as well (16-8 in SEC), the Razorbacks however return home this weekend to Baum-Walker Stadium, a place where Arkansas is 28-5 so far this season.

Leading the Razorbacks offensively are three .300+ hitters in Michael Turner, Chris Lanzilli, and Cayden Wallace, while the biggest power threats in the Arkansas lineup come from Braydon Webb and Brady Slavens, both of which are in double-digits for home runs this season. The rotation is led by one of SEC Baseball’s top starters in right-hander Connor Noland (2.99 ERA), while the bullpen is a big strength for the Razorbacks, featuring arms such as Zack Morris, Brady Tygart, Evan Taylor, Zebulon Vermillion, and Elijah Trest.

Vanderbilt on the other hand comes to Fayetteville with a 32-15 overall record on the year, as well as being exactly .500 in SEC Baseball play at 12-12. Ranked as the No. 24 team in the country, the Commodores got back on their winning ways last weekend with a 2-1 series win in Athens against Georgia, followed by an 8-7 mid-week win over Indiana State in extra innings.

Leading the way for the Commodores offensively are two of the SEC’s top hitters in Dominic Keegan and Spencer Jones, as well as outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr who is a perfect 34-for-34 on stolen base attempts this season. The Vanderbilt rotation is anchored by southpaw Devin Futrell (2.03 ERA with 55:6 K:BB this season), as well as an impressive bullpen led by Thomas Schultz, Nelson Berkwich, and Jack Anderson.

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When predicting this series, it’s simply hard to pick against Arkansas here playing on their home field. I’ll say that the Razorbacks take two-of-three, with the series potentially tied 1-1 entering game three on Sunday.

Prediction: Arkansas 2-1

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