Image Courtesy: Whole Hog Sports
2025 Fayetteville Regional (Baum-Walker Stadium)
June 7-9
Teams:
3.Arkansas 46-13 (20-10) SEC
The Arkansas Razorbacks are the highest-seeded team left in the field after SEC counterparts No. 1 Vanderbilt and No. 2 Texas—two teams the Razorbacks swept during the regular season—were eliminated in their respective regionals. Arkansas, meanwhile, dominated the Fayetteville Regional, with their closest game coming in the opener: a 6–2 victory over North Dakota State. The Razorbacks’ potent lineup—led by SEC Player of the Year Wehiwa Aloy, catcher Ryder Helfrick, left fielder Charles Davalan, second baseman Cam Kozeal, and more—came alive against Creighton, outscoring the Blue Jays 20–4 across two games. On the mound, starting pitchers Zach Root and Gage Wood were dominant, with Wood and reliever Gabe Gaeckle combining for a regional-record 20 strikeouts in Sunday’s final. This feels like the season Arkansas could finally break through and win it all for head coach Dave Van Horn, after heartbreak in June of 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022. However, they cannot afford to overlook Tennessee. The Volunteers are a talented team and went toe-to-toe with Arkansas just a few weeks ago. The Razorbacks’ offensive depth and quality starting pitching must come together once again this weekend as they look to win another series against Tennessee at Baum–Walker Stadium—just as they did 18 days ago in a four-run Game 3 victory over the Volunteers.
14.Tennessee 46-17 (16-14) SEC
The Tennessee Volunteers are the reigning national champions and have reached at least the super regionals in each of the past four summers—just as Dave Van Horn’s Razorbacks did from 2018 to 2022. Tony Vitello, the former Razorback hitting coach, has transformed the Volunteers into a perennial SEC powerhouse after his time learning under Van Horn in Fayetteville. Tennessee leans on the star power of ace pitcher Liam Doyle, slugging third baseman Andrew Fischer (24 home runs), and outfielder Hunter Ensley. The Volunteers swept through all three teams that joined them in the Knoxville Regional last weekend—defeating Miami (OH), Cincinnati, and Wake Forest. After the Demon Deacons handed the Vols a loss on Sunday night, Tennessee was forced into a Monday elimination game, where Doyle delivered in a dominant six-run victory to send the Vols to Fayetteville for a super regional rematch against Arkansas. To win the series this time, Tennessee must take Game 1—just as they did on May 15. In that matchup, pitching coach Frank Anderson chose to hold Doyle and instead started Marcus Phillips, who helped the Vols secure a 10–7 Game 1 win over the Razorbacks. Trouble came in Game 2, when Doyle gave up eight runs, leading to a loss. The Volunteers then dropped Game 3 as well, with Arkansas reliever Will McEntire closing out the win in impressive fashion. If Tennessee hopes to eliminate the Razorbacks on the road in Fayetteville this weekend, they must rise to the occasion and prove they’re the better team.
2025 Fayetteville Super Regional Predictions:
(Winner is bolded)
June 7
Game 1: 14.Tennessee @ 3.Arkansas (4 PM CT, ESPN)
June 8
Game 2: 14.Tennessee @ 3.Arkansas (2 PM CT, ESPN)
June 9 (If necessary)
Game 3: 14.Tennessee @ 3.Arkansas (TBA, TBA)
Winner: 3.Arkansas in 3
