Arkansas

ArkansasRazorbacks.com

Overview

The Razorbacks are hitting .299, they lead all regional teams with 84 home runs, and they are fielding at a .971 clip. With four players in double digits in home runs, and two others within striking distance of 10, the Hogs have been very consistent top to bottom in the lineup with only one every day player hitting under .284.

Key Players

Third baseman Casey Martin (.343, 13 HR, 43 RBI) has been on a tear lately to take over the team lead in home runs and batting average. Left fielder and SEC Freshman of the Year Heston Kjerstad (.336, 11 HR, 14 doubles, 47 RBI) is right there with him as they could see themselves hitting back to back in the order this weekend. Right fielder Eric Cole (.325, 12 HR, 44 RBI) and second baseman Carson Shaddy (.327, 10 HR, 38 RBI) have been consistent mainstays at the top and middle of the lineup, respectively.

Weakness

The thorn for this team all year has been untimely hitting and costly errors at times. However, they have proven that they can score runs in a hurry and even with two outs you can never count them out of a game.

Southern Miss

SunHerald.com

Overview

USM boasts a regional high .304 batting average with 69 home runs, a .972 fielding percentage, and a regional leading .409 on base percentage. With only one player in the lineup hitting under .290, it will be difficult to navigate through this lineup.

Key Players

Of their 69 total home runs, three players have hit 41 of them. Third baseman and C-USA Player of the Year Luke Reynolds (.400, 15 HR, 60 RBI), center fielder Matt Wallner (.358, 16 HR, 66 RBI), and first baseman Hunter Slater (.306, 10 HR, 52 RBI) hit 3 through 5 in the order and are trouble for opposing pitchers with runners on base, accounting for over 41% of the team’s RBI.

Weakness

The Golden Eagles will strikeout a bit with 501 on the season, and their big three hitters are responsible for 170 of them.

Dallas Baptist

DBUPatriots.com

Overview

DBU starts the weekend with a .296 batting average, 77 home runs, and leads the regional with a .977 fielding percentage, 72 stolen bases, and a .491 slugging percentage.

Key Players

Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Devlin Granberg (.426, 11 HR, 65 RBI) mans right field for the Patriots and is a force to be reckoned with at the top of their lineup with 100 hits, including 16 doubles, 23 stolen bases and 50 walks on the season. Middle of the order third baseman Tim Millard has hit a team high 14 home runs and driven in 59, while left fielder Jameson Hannah is hitting a cool .360 and pacing the team with 22 doubles out of the two hole. Three-hole hitter Jimmy Glowenke (.327, 9 HR, 16 doubles, 45 RBI) won both MVC Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year at shortstop. Two-way player and MVC Newcomer of the Year Kody Funderburk (.313, 12 HR, 19 doubles, 47 RBI) plays first base and has made 13 starts on the mound.

Weakness

DBU leads the field in doubles (144) and is second in home runs, but they tend to only get it done toward the top of the lineup as four of their regular starters are hitting below .250.

Oral Roberts

TheSummitLeague.org

Overview

In the first game of the Fayetteville Regional Arkansas will take on ORU, who comes in with a .285 team batting average, 37 home runs, .968 fielding percentage, and leads the regional teams with 505 strikeouts.

Key Players

First baseman Spencer Henson (.368, 9 HR, 54 RBI) and DH Noah Cummings (.323, 9 HR, 55 RBI) are the big run producers in the middle of the ORU lineup. Second baseman Nick Roark (.322) has been a reliable leadoff batter, leading the team in on base percentage (.440), runs scored (54) and has struck out only 34 times in 227 at bats.

Weakness

Though winners of their last five games including the Summit League tournament championship, the (other) Golden Eagles will rely mostly on pitching and stringing together base hits as their lineup does not match up well against the power and production that the other three teams possess.