SCHEDULED GAME TIME
Friday, 6 p.m. Central at Founders Park (8,242) in Columbia, S.C.
RECORDS
Arkansas 32-5, 12-3 SEC
South Carolina 26-11, 8-7 SEC
STREAKS
Arkansas won 2
South Carolina won 1
LAST 10 GAMES
Arkansas 8-2
South Carolina 6-4
COACHES
Arkansas: Dave Van Horn — 871-446 in 22nd season at Arkansas and 1,191-603 in 30th season overall in Division I.
South Carolina: Mark Kingston — 206-141 in seventh season at South Carolina and 479-321-1 in 15th season overall.
SERIES HISTORY
Arkansas leads 45-35
LAST MEETING
Arkansas defeated South Carolina 5-1 on May 14, 2023, in Fayetteville to win a three-game series.
TELEVISION
The game will be streamed by SEC Network+. It can be accessed on WatchESPN.com and via the ESPN app (carrier login required). Dave Weinstein (play-by-play) and Kip Bouknight (analyst) will be on the call.
RADIO
Phil Elson will call the game on the Razorback Sports Network, which can be accessed through local FM and AM affiliates, via the Arkansas Razorbacks Gameday app, via the Varsity Network app or on ArkansasRazorbacks.com. Blackouts may apply.
STARTING PITCHERS
Arkansas: LHP Hagen Smith — 7-0, 1.53 ERA, 0.83 WHIP in 47 innings.
South Carolina: RHP Roman Kimball — 1-1, 4.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP in 18 innings.
TEAM COMPARISONS
Earned Run Avg.: Arkansas 2.79; South Carolina 4.50
Runs Per Game: Arkansas 6.97; South Carolina 7.68
Batting Avg.: Arkansas .275; South Carolina .269
Opp. Batting Avg.: Arkansas .198; South Carolina .234
Slugging Pct.: Arkansas .468; South Carolina .479
On-Base Pct.: Arkansas .395; South Carolina .420
Fielding Pct.: Arkansas .980; South Carolina .974
FORECAST
According to the National Weather Service, Friday will be cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in Columbia, S.C. The high temperature will be 89 degrees with a low of 64. West winds will be calm.
WHAT TO KNOW
• Arkansas is ranked second and South Carolina is ranked 21st in the USA Today Baseball Coaches Poll.
• The Razorbacks were predicted to win the SEC and the Gamecocks predicted to finish fourth in the SEC East by league coaches.
• South Carolina is 18-4 at home and Arkansas is 3-3 on the road this season.
• The Gamecocks won two of three games last week at Florida and defeated The Citaldel 4-3 on Tuesday in Charleston, S.C.
• Arkansas lost two of three games at No. 14 Alabama last weekend. The Razorbacks swept a two-game midweek series at home over Texas Tech.
• Arkansas starter Hagen Smith was listed on the Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list and was named the Dick Howser Trophy national pitcher of the month for March. He enters Friday's game ranked first nationally with 17.04 strikeouts per 9 innings and fifth nationally in ERA (1.53) and WHIP (0.83).
• South Carolina starter Roman Kimball is starting for the first time since a March 17 game against Ole Miss. Kimball has three starts and 10 total appearances this season.
• The Razorbacks have won three consecutive regular-season series against South Carolina and also won a super regional 2-1 over the Gamecocks in 2018.
• Arkansas right fielder Kendall Diggs is expected to play after sitting out both games against Texas Tech with swelling in his left shoulder. Diggs throws right-handed and bats left-handed.