What Threat Does Remaining SEC Schedule Pose for Van Horn's Razorbacks?

As Arkansas fights for position to host a regional at Baum-Walker, four SEC teams stand in their way

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – After a midweek game against a highly dangerous Central Arkansas team tonight, the No. 5 Razorbacks enter the final stretch of the regular season. 

We break down the final four SEC series for the Hogs as Dave Van Horn's squad looks to keep rolling forward despite all the injuries and lock up home field advantage in the NCAA regionals and possibly super regionals. 

Georgia
(19-17, 4-11)

Reason to be concerned: 

The Bulldogs took 2-of-3 from No. 12 Kentucky, winning 3-0 and 6-2 last week. That accounts for half their wins. They also came a run away from taking a series from Florida last weekend. If Georgia somehow beats Clemson today, then it will be clear that the Bulldogs have found something and are a team that should really cause concern this weekend despite the overall record.

Most dangerous hitter: 

Charlie Condon (.450 BA, 16 HR, 52 RBI, .899 SLG, .541 OB)

Most dangerous pitcher: 

Technically it's Kyle Greenler. However, he's a one inning guy who pitches mostly against mid-week opponents. As far as pitchers Arkansas will see, Liam Sullivan will pose the most trouble. He only has a 4.16 ERA and barely makes it through four innings per start, but he really found his groove against Kentucky. Sullivan went 7 innings, giving up four hits and no runs.

Mississippi State
(22-15, 5-10)

Reason to be concerned:

Overall, it's hard to be concerned about Mississippi State on paper. Top level SEC teams have made easy work of the Bulldogs. However, they're still Mississippi State. They're still looking to sneak into the tournament and make a run like Ole Miss did last season. 

Speaking of Ole Miss, the Bulldogs were a run away from sweeping the Rebels last seek. They've got a sweepable Auburn team, a game with Ole Miss and a series with a Tennessee team that will be so battered by then the Volunteers may not even want to get out on the field before Mississippi State hosts Arkansas on Mother's Day weekend.

The Bulldogs could be rolling when these two meet and fighting for a chance to host a regional. A Mississippi State team with something to play for can be dangerous.

Most dangerous hitter:

Hunter Hines (.336 BA, 17 HR, 47 RBI, .755 SLG, .398 OB)

Most dangerous pitcher: 

Nate Dohm has been used similar to Gage Wood in that he is all over the place. Sometimes he gets starter innings, he pops in to chew up and inning here or there, and every now and then he's in for the save. In addition to a 3.47 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP, Dohm averages over a strikeout per inning.

No. 6 South Carolina
(30-6, 10-4)

Reason to be concerned:

The Gamecocks have the same number of conference losses and a full win in the overall win column over Arkansas. Until No. 4 Vanderbilt took the last two games of the series last weekend in Nashville, South Carolina was 6-1 against ranked teams, including a 5-0 shutout of No. 13 North Carolina in a midweek game.

The Gamecocks are also 5-2 in games decided by two runs or less, with those two losses coming to Vanderbilt and  No. 1 LSU. In fact, the Gamecocks are a 1-run game away from sweeping the Tigers.

Fear the three-headed monster addressed below.

The one ray of hope for Arkansas is that South Carolina is 6-5 in road games against teams not named South Carolina Upstate or The Citadel.

Most dangerous hitter:

Ethan Petry (.438 BA, 18 HR, 56 RBI, .906 SLG, .497 OB)

Most dangerous pitcher:

Herein lies the problem with facing South Carolina. This might be the most dangerous overall pitching staff in the SEC considering all the injuries at Arkansas. 

The three-headed monster starts with Jack Mahoney. He enters this week with a 3.22 ERA, strikes out a hitter each inning while only giving up one hit per inning and only walks a batter every fourth inning pitched. In 442/3 innings, he's only given up 14 extra base hits, which includes zero triples. It should also be noted that Mahoney's stats barely changed once he hit SEC play.

Next up is Noah Hall. His ERA is just a shade below Mahoney at 3.29. He too will get over a strikeout per inning, gives up less than a hit per inning and only walks a batter every fifth inning. As for extra base hits, he's only given up a dozen in over 41 innings of pitching. The one positive for Arkansas is that his ERA is a full run higher in SEC play.

Last is James Hicks, who is 3-0 in SEC play. He's basically the same song, third verse. Hicks is a perfect 6-0 on the season with a 2.27 ERA. Hicks gives up well below a hit per inning and only gives up a walk every fourth inning on the mound. He's only given up eight extra base hits in 352/3 innings of work. Much like the other two, he hasn't given up a triple all year. His ERA as a whole goes up a little in SEC play, but the strikeouts and hits are pretty consistent.

No. 4 Vanderbilt
(29-7, 13-2)

Reason to be concerned:

Vanderbilt is 9-3 in games against six teams that were ranked at the time they met. They also lead the SEC overall by a full two games. The upside for Arkansas is only No. 6 South Carolina and No. 24 Oklahoma State are still ranked and the Texas team the Commodores beat in Arlington are now No. 14. Playing on the road, home or on a neutral field doesn't seem to matter. Vanderbilt is consistent everywhere. 

Most dangerous hitter:

RJ Schreck (.354 BA, 9 HR, 42 RBI, .693 SLG, .491 OB)

Here's the thing with Vanderbilt, they don't have a dominant hitter, but they have a line-up full of really good hitters.

Most dangerous pitcher:

Devin Futrell has pitched against a Who's Who of college baseball this season and has dominated everyone with his 2.35 ERA. He only gives up a run roughly every two innings, often pitches into the 8th inning and will always make it through at least five innings if he starts. Ironically, his only loss came in his only non-high profile game against Loyola Marymount. He threw a 2-hitter that day.

Futrell has only given up two runs in his last three outings that covered 202/3 innings.

HOGS FEED:

MUSSELMAN HAS WORK CUT OUT WITH LATEST TRANSFER

ARKANSAS KICKER STEPS IN FOR FAILED REALITY TV REUNION SHOW

JEFFERSON PROVIDES PERSPECTIVE ON ADJUSTING TO NEW PLAYERS, COACHES

SAM PITTMAN BREAKS DOWN HOW THIS SPRING COMPARES TO PAST YEARS

FOOTBALL NERDS MAY ENJOY SATURDAY, BUT NOBODY ELSE WILL GET MUCH FROM IT

STAFF, CULTURE CHANGES FOR HOGS MAY STARTING TO PAY OFF

ARKANSAS FANS PAYING ATTENTION TO WRONG PLAYER BASED ON MUSSELMAN'S RECENT PORTAL CONTACTS

MUSSELMAN UNEXPECTEDLY ADDS ANOTHER SHOOTER TO LINE-UP

WHY HOGS' BASEBALL MAY HAVE TO LEARN A LITTLE FROM BASKETBALL'S ERIC MUSSELMAN

BLACK HEADS FOR NBA AS BATTLE JOINS HOGS' ROSTER

PATH AWAITS HOGS BEING SET UP FOR 'DREAM SEASON' NEXT YEAR

TODAY'S ATHLETES HAVE MUCH MORE TO THINK ABOUT WHEN CONSIDERING GOING PRO

ARKANSAS WILL HAVE ANOTHER QUARTERBACK NAMED KJ IN THE FOLD

ERIC MUSSELMAN LANDS TRANSFER PORTAL COMMITMENT FROM HOUSTON

ARKANSAS RECEIVERS KNOW A NO. 1 TARGET HASN'T EMERGED IN SPRING PRACTICE

TIME HAS COME WHERE IT MIGHT BE BEST FOR THE MITCHELL TWINS TO TAKE SEPARATE PATHS TO THE SAME DREAM DESTINATION

HUNTER YURACHECK MADE UNFORESEEN RIGHT CALL ON MUSSELMAN FOUR YEARS AGO

FORMER RAZORBACK WALK-ON STARTING NEW CAREER WITH A FAMILAR FACE

HOGS' JALEN GRAHAM HAS EASTER EGG HIDDING IN SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS ABOUT TEAMMATE

IF THIS IS WHAT MUSSELMAN IS DOING, HE IS ABOUT TO CHANGE HOW BASKETBALL TRANSFER PORTAL IS USED

PITTMAN BETTER ENJOY THIS YEAR BECAUSE NEXT NINE YEARS OF NON-CONFERENCE WILL BE TOUGH

JALEN GRAHAM COMING BACK FOR SECOND SEASON WITH RAZORBACKS

HOGS COACH SAM PITTMAN 'HAVING A BLAST' WITH OFFENSIVE LINE PLAYER MOVES IN SPRING PRACTICE

ARKANSAS BASEBALL SCHEDULE

FAYETTEVILLE WEATHER UPDATE

Return to allHogs home page.

• Want to join in on the discussion? Click here to become a member of the allHOGS message board community today!

• Follow allHOGS on Twitter and Facebook.