Arkansas Faces Must-Win Stretch to Reach College World Series Finals
The third-seeded University of Arkansas baseball team is now in a do-or-die situation, needing four consecutive victories over the next four days to secure a spot in the College World Series championship series.
After falling 4-1 to sixth-seeded LSU on Saturday night, the Razorbacks will begin their uphill battle with an elimination game against unseeded Murray State at 1 p.m. Central on Monday at Charles Schwab Field. This marks Arkansas’ first must-win scenario of the postseason.
“We’re not focused on winning four straight,” Head Coach Dave Van Horn said during Sunday’s practice at Creighton Prep High School in Omaha. “We’re just focused on winning tomorrow—and then taking it inning by inning. These guys understand that. It’s no different than being down 0-2 on a weekend series—you’ve just got to find a way to win.”
Van Horn intends to start right-hander Gage Wood against Murray State. Wood has posted a 3-1 record and a 5.02 ERA this season. While Arkansas’ official social media confirmed the plan, Van Horn acknowledged the possibility of a change, with right-hander Aiden Jimenez or left-hander Landon Beidelschies also under consideration. Beidelschies, who served as a Game 3 starter for much of the season, has since moved to the bullpen.
Wood last pitched in Arkansas’ 11-4 win over No. 14 Tennessee last Sunday, throwing 3 1/3 innings and allowing one earned run with two walks and no strikeouts across 48 pitches. Beidelschies’ most recent appearance came on May 30 against North Dakota State, where he pitched two scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Jimenez started that same game, surrendering two earned runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings while issuing four walks, one intentionally.
Murray State, a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, is no stranger to Arkansas. The Racers visited Fayetteville last year and were swept in a three-game series (5-1, 11-1, and 5-3).
“First of all, they’re really well-coached,” Van Horn said. “Coach (Dan) Skirka is a great guy. I actually texted him after they won their super regional, and I think he may have reached out to me after we clinched ours—even though they had a game that night.”
Wood had a brief appearance in last year’s 5-3 win over Murray State, giving up back-to-back singles to Jonathan Hogart and Carson Garner before being pulled. Hogart, now a redshirt senior, leads the Racers with 22 home runs, 26 doubles, and a .344 batting average. Garner has a .279 average and has homered 17 times.
Virginia Tech transfer Dustin Mercer paces the Racers with a .359 batting average, while Dan Tauken leads the team in RBIs with 77. Both are redshirt seniors.
“I told them after last year’s series that they had a solid team,” Van Horn recalled. “I really liked their shortstop, Drew Vogel, who later signed with the Astros. They’re experienced, fearless, and used to playing in tough environments. This will be a challenge.”
Murray State, making its first College World Series appearance, dropped into the elimination bracket after a 6-4 comeback attempt fell short against UCLA on Saturday. Senior right-hander Isaac Silva (9-2, 5.09 ERA) is expected to start Monday’s game. In his last outing, Silva gave up six earned runs over 5 1/3 innings in a 19-9 win over Duke, forcing a decisive game in the Durham Super Regional.
The Racers are 3-0 in elimination games during this NCAA Tournament run. After losing to Ole Miss in the Oxford Regional, they bounced back the next day to clinch a super regional berth. In Durham, they lost the first game but then won two straight to reach Omaha.
Now, Murray State hopes to earn its first-ever win at the College World Series. Meanwhile, top-seeded Arkansas aims to extend its season and begin a long climb toward the title series.
Matt Byrne covers the Razorbacks as part of the ADG Community Journalism Project. The position honors longtime Arkansas sportswriter Bob Holt.
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