Image Courtesy: The Oklahoman
Arkansas will not play in Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville during regional weekend for the first time since 2015. We will see if the hogs can play better and make it back to the Supers for the fourth consecutive season.
2022 Stillwater Regional
June 3-6
Teams:
7.Oklahoma State 39-20 (15-9) Big 12
The last time Arkansas did not host a regional, in 2015, Arkansas also headed to Stillwater to face Oklahoma State in their regional. The Diamond Hogs won the Stillwater Regional on their way to Omaha that year. This season, Oklahoma State was not even seen as a top eight seed until they went 3-2 last week in Arlington at the Big 12 Tournament. This is an offensive ball club that has some underrated arms pitching for them.
(4) Missouri State 30-27 (8-13) MVC
Arkansas has a lot of history with Missouri State, too. They beat the hogs this year in their final non-conference game, 6-4. Also, they upset the hogs in the 2017 Fayetteville Regional and made it to the Super Regionals where they lost to TCU. The Bears also played Oklahoma State this season but lost to the Cowboys.
(2) Arkansas 38-18 (18-12) SEC
After starting off 17-3 and winning their first two SEC series over Missouri and Kentucky, the hogs dropped SEC series to Florida, Texas A&M, the eventual winner of the SEC West, Vanderbilt, and Alabama. The hogs did not win at least a share of the SEC West title for the first time since 2017.
(3) Grand Canyon 41-19 (25-5) WAC
Grand Canyon is one of the top teams in the western athletic conference every season. It should be a great game between the Antelopes and the Razorbacks to begin the Stillwater Regional.
June 3
Game 1: 2.Arkansas vs. 3.Grand Canyon (12 PM CT, SECN)
In a match up of regional regulars, Grand Canyon boasts the best offense in the region, even as the three seed. Arkansas, last season’s top overall seed fell off a bit with a 38-18 record, having lost six of their last eight games. But something tells me that this uber talented Arkansas team that has not been awakened with push through and defeat GCU.
Game 2: 1.Oklahoma State vs. 4.Missouri State (6 PM CT, ESPN+)
Oklahoma State will take the lead early and get their second win over Missouri State this season.
June 4
Game 3: 3.Grand Canyon vs. 4.Missouri State (12 PM CT, TBD)
With the Antelopes being one of the top three seeds in the bracket and the Bears being one of the top four seeds its hard to pick this game or even imagining either team losing their opening round game the day prior. But, Missouri State’s bats will break through and the Bears will play small ball to avoid elimination.
Game 4: 1.Oklahoma State vs. 2. Arkansas (6 PM CT, TBD)
In the winner’s bracket Oklahoma State will defeat Arkansas and move one win away from hosting a Super Regional.
June 5
Game 5: 2.Arkansas vs. 4.Missouri State (12 PM CT, TBD)
Arkansas will get their revenge on Missouri State from earlier last month and move on to a must-win game six of the regional in a rematch against Oklahoma State.
Game 6: 1.Oklahoma State vs. 2.Arkansas (6 PM CT, TBD)
Arkansas will send it to game seven with a walk-off Robert Moore blast to beat Oklahoma State.
June 6 (If necessary)
Game 7: 1.Oklahoma State vs. 2.Arkansas (6 PM CT, TBD)
Oklahoma State will face Arkansas for a third time this weekend and win doing whatever they need to in their own ballpark. The Cowboys eliminate the hogs in regionals for the first time since 2017.
Winner: 7.Oklahoma State in 7
