NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt baseball team is set to hit the road this weekend, traveling to Fayetteville for an SEC series at No. 4 Arkansas.
The three-game series is set to begin with a 6:30 p.m. CT first pitch Friday followed by another 6:30 p.m. CT first pitch in Saturday’s contest. The series finale between the two teams is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT Sunday. All three games will be streamed on SEC Network+.
Probable Starting Pitching Matchups
FRIDAY: Vandy – Fr., LHP Devin Futrell (8-1, 2.03) vs. Arkansas – Sr., RHP Connor Noland (5-3, 2.99)
SATURDAY: Vandy – Jr., RHP Chris McElvain (5-3, 3.48) vs. Arkansas – Fr., LHP Hagen Smith (6-2, 3.79)
SUNDAY: Vandy – Fr., LHP Carter Holton (6-3, 3.82) vs. Arkansas – So., RHP Jaxon Wiggins (6-1, 5.40)
Trending
• The Commodores have won their last two games and look to carry momentum into this weekend’s series. Vandy took the series finale at Georgia before battling back to defeat Indiana State in the midweek.
• Vanderbilt battled from an early 4-0 deficit before entering the ninth trailing, 7-3. The Dores scored four in the ninth to send things to extras before walking it off in the 11th inning.
• Vandy has won three of its last four SEC series, including its last two road series. The Commodores took two of three at Kentucky before winning the bookend games at Georgia to claim the series victory.
Starting From Behind
• Vanderbilt has had to battle back in most of its SEC games recently after falling to early deficits.
• The opponent has scored first in 12 of the last 18 conference games against the Commodores, which spans across Vandy’s last six SEC series.
• Vanderbilt 4-10 in conference action when opponents score first. The opponent has scored first in 10 of Vanderbilt’s 12 losses in conference action.
Leadoff Production
• The Commodores have had significant success in games where leadoff man Enrique Bradfield Jr. scores a run.
• In SEC play, the Vanderbilt offense is averaging 7.5 runs (17 games) in games when Bradfield scores at least one run, while averaging 2.3 runs (seven games) in the contests he does not score.
• Nine of Vanderbilt’s 12 losses in conference action have come when the offense scores three runs or less.
• The Commodores own a 12-5 record in SEC play when Bradfield scores, and are 0-7 in conference action when the sophomore outfielder does not score.
Series History
• Friday’s series opener will mark the 63rd time that Vanderbilt and Arkansas have met in the all-time history between the two programs.
• The Commodores trail in the all-time series, with a 29-33 record against the Arkansas.
The Kommodores
• The Vanderbilt pitching staff has totaled 508 strikeouts on the season, averaging 11.0 strikeouts per nine innings.
• The Commodores rank sixth in the nation in strikeouts per nine, while placing second in the SEC.
• The duo of Carter Holton and Chris McElvain are both ranked in the top 10 of the SEC in strikeouts. Holton is tied for second with 81 and McElvain is tied for fourth with 79.
What’s Next
• Following the series with Arkansas, Vanderbilt will return home to face Middle Tennessee State in the midweek on Tuesday.
• The Commodores will host LSU next weekend for the regular season finale.
