Arkansas baseball sticking with same weekend pitching rotation against Mississippi State
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas baseball coach Dave Van Horn is sticking with his weekend pitching rotation for the No. 3 Razorbacks (40-9, 17-7 SEC) upcoming series against No. 15 Mississippi State (32-16, 14-10).
Van Horn said sophomore reliever Gage Wood was "getting ready to take someone's job" after Saturday's 11-3 loss to Kentucky and Van Horn doubled down Monday by saying he and his staff were still deliberating potential changes.
But in the end, Arkansas is maintaining the status quo. Hagen Smith (9-0, 1.36 ERA) will pitch Friday night with Brady Tygart (4-2, 3.34) going Saturday and Mason Molina (3-2, 3.81) getting the series finale.
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Smith's spot was unquestionably secure, but Tygart and Molina struggled against Kentucky. Tygart couldn't build off two straight solid outings and gave up five runs in three innings.
Molina has walked 10 batters across his last two starts and failed to get past the fourth inning in losses to South Carolina and Kentucky. The Texas Tech transfer had a bright beginning to the season with 43 strikeouts in his first five starts, but he has 28 punchouts in his last six appearances.
Wood struck out six and only walked two in 4 1/3 innings against the Wildcats Saturday. Wood did give up three earned runs, but Van Horn was happy with how the sophomore righty attacked the zone and limited free passes.
Wood was the Hogs' closer last season, but he made the first start of his collegiate career on April 30 against Missouri State, pitching three scoreless innings with six strikeouts. He is 3-1 with a 2.81 ERA.
Van Horn said Monday the coaching staff has been preparing Wood for a potential transition in recent weeks, but the goal was always to keep the weekend rotation intact.
Arkansas opens a three-game series against Mississippi State Friday at 6:30 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Arkansas baseball won't change starting rotation vs Mississippi State
