Arkansas baseball vs. Ole Miss Game 1: How to watch and listen, pitching matchup, forecast, what to know

Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn (right) shakes hands with Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco prior to a game Monday, June, 2022, at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. (Charlie Kaijo/NWA Democrat-Gazette)

SCHEDULED GAME TIME

The game will begin Friday at 2 p.m. at Swayze Field (10,715) in Oxford, Miss. 

RECORDS 

Arkansas: 16-1

Ole Miss: 14-2

STREAK

Arkansas: Won 12

Ole Miss: Lost 1

LAST 10 GAMES

Arkansas: 10-0

Ole Miss: 9-1

COACHES 

Arkansas: Dave Van Horn — 899-458 in 23rd season at Arkansas and 1,219-615 in 31st season overall in Division I. 

Ole Miss: Mike Bianco — 920-445-1 in 25th season at Ole Miss and 1,020-616-1 in 28th season overall.

SERIES HISTORY

Arkansas leads 62-53. 

LAST MEETING

Arkansas defeated Ole Miss 7-4 on April 6, 2024, in Fayetteville, to sweep a 3-game series. 

TELEVISION 

The game will be streamed by SEC Network+ and can be accessed on WatchESPN.com and via the ESPN app (subscriber login required). Jake Hromada (play-by-play), Keith Kessinger (analyst) and Loral Winn (field) will be on the call. 

RADIO 

Phil Elson (play-by-play) will call the game on the Razorback Sports Network, which can be accessed through local FM and AM affiliates, via the Arkansas Razorbacks Gameday app, via the Varsity Network app or on ArkansasRazorbacks.com. Blackouts may apply.

FORECAST

According to the National Weather Service, Friday will become sunny with a high of 79 degrees in Oxford. South winds will be 5-15 mph and could gust to 30 mph.

STARTING PITCHERS

Arkansas: LHP Zach Root — 2-0, 2.11 ERA, 0.84 WHIP in 21 1/3 innings. 

Ole Miss: LHP Hunter Elliott — 3-0, 1.86 ERA, 1.14 WHIP in 19 1/3 innings.

TEAM COMPARISONS

Earned Run Avg.: Arkansas 3.02; Ole Miss 3.48

WHIP: Arkansas 1.11; Ole Miss 1.42

Runs Per Game: Arkansas 9.18; Ole Miss 8.19

Batting Avg.: Arkansas .313; Ole Miss .285

Opp. Batting Avg.: Arkansas .227; Ole Miss .229

Slugging Pct.: Arkansas .591; Ole Miss .522

On-Base Pct.: Arkansas .438; Ole Miss .425

OPS: Arkansas 1.029; Ole Miss .947

Fielding Pct.: Arkansas .989; Ole Miss .970

Run Differential Per Game: Arkansas +6.18; Ole Miss +3.75

WHAT TO KNOW

• The game time was moved ahead by 4 1/2 hours due to expected rain Friday night in Oxford. 

• The Rebels are 12-0 at home this season. The Razorbacks are playing their first road game. 

• Arkansas is ranked third and Ole Miss is 15th in the USA Today Baseball Coaches Poll. 

• Ole Miss starter Hunter Elliott allowed 4 earned runs and struck out 12 in 12 1/3 innings during a pair of starts against Arkansas as a freshman in 2022, including at the College World Series. Elliott missed most of the 2023 season and all of last season with an elbow injury. 

• Arkansas starter Zach Root is pitching in the Game 1 role for the first time this season. He tied a career high with 10 strikeouts last week in 6 scoreless innings against Portland. 

• The Razorbacks' 16-1 record is the program's best 17-game start since 2006.

• Friday's game will be the 81st between Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn and Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco. Ole Miss has a 43-37 lead in those games.