Weekend Wrap Up: Opening Weekend Sweep

The Hogs got off to a perfect start to their 2019 baseball season. Even though the weather kept opening day at bay for 24 hours, Arkansas had a doubleheader sweep where they put up 27 runs in the two games and followed that up with a walk off winner on Sunday.

Hitter of the Week - Trevor Ezell

Ezell was put in the three hole, right in the middle of Arkansas’ best hitters from last year and looked every bit the part in this first series. He had at least one hit in all three games, including a team leading three extra base hits. Ezell also showed a good eye and drew three walks this weekend. He had a career game to start off the season, going 3/4 with a home run and three RBIs. Having Ezell hitting well gives Heston Kjerstad better pitches to hit this year, and lets the top half of the order look even more dangerous.

He even looked smooth on the base paths.

Pitcher of the Week - Connor Noland

He and Jacob Kostyshock both had solid starts this weekend, but Noland had seven K’s and just one walk in his 4.2 innings of work. Arkansas needs to find out quick who is going to be in the weekend rotation behind Isaiah Campbell, and Noland looked the part of a weekend starter in his first collegiate game. If those pitches translate to better competition, he could be a reliable piece this year and easily the team’s strikeout leader.

Most Impressive Stat

Arkansas hit .432 (16/37) with runners in scoring position this weekend. That was higher than their overall average over the weekend. 11 different hogs had a hit with RISP and five had multiple hits. Arkansas already has some home run hitters in their lineup, but having a good approach with RISP makes a lineup even more dangerous, and through three games this team has shown that.