Bulldogs open three-game series at Arkansas on Friday afternoon

GAME NOTES

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University baseball team will play its first-ever series against an SEC school this weekend when it visits Arkansas for three games starting on Friday, Feb. 24. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. EST on Friday.

The Bulldogs and Razorbacks will play single games on Friday, Saturday (3:00 p.m. EST) and Sunday (2:00 p.m. EST). All three games will be broadcast live on SEC Network+.

LINKS

Watch Live: Friday | Saturday | Sunday

Live Stats: Friday | Saturday | Sunday

SERIES HISTORY

Bryant and Arkansas meet for the first time since the 2013 Manhattan (Kan.) Regional this weekend. The Bulldogs and Razorbacks played twice in the NCAA Tournament, splitting the two games. Bryant, the No. 3 seed, opened the regional by shocking the 15th-ranked Razorbacks, 4-1, to earn the first Division I NCAA victory in school history. The Razorbacks bounced back to eliminate the Black and Gold two days later.

DOGS OVER HOGS

In one of the most unforgettable games in Bryant Athletics history, the Bulldogs were able to upset Arkansas in the 2013 Manhattan Regional opener. Bryant, playing in its first-ever DI NCAA Tournament game, received five innings of one-run ball from ace Peter Kelich and four scoreless and hitless innings of relief from Sal Lisanti to earn a 4-1 win. Kevin Brown's RBI single snapped a 1-1 tie in the top of the 8th and John Mullen followed with one of the most memorable hits in program history, a triple to deep center to make it a two-run game.

NOTES AND NOTABLES FOR ARKANSAS

Bryant opened the season with a victory for the second-straight year and just the third time at the Division I level last weekend. The Bulldogs also opened the 2012 season with a win.

The Bulldogs had 10 players make their collegiate debuts over the weekend. Of those 10, five were in the opening day starting lineup.

Bryant has never played a weekend series against an SEC school in program history. The Bulldogs are 2-1 all-time against teams from the SEC after earning a 7-4 victory over No. 22 Kentucky last February at the Tony Gwynn Classic in San Diego.

Junior James Karinchak (Walden, N.Y.) allowed one run on two hits, walked one and struck out 12 over five innings on Friday night. It was reported that Karinchak hit 98mph with his fastball in the first inning. Of his 82 pitches, 50 were strikes and he had 16 swing and misses.

Karinchak now has 21 career victories, tying him with Kevin McAvoy for the third-most in Bryant's DI history.

Sophomore Steve Theetge (Syracuse, N.Y.) improved to 10-0 in his career with 5 1/3 innings in game two of the series.

Freshman Ryan Ward (Millbury, Mass.) hit two home runs and drove in four in game of the series. He became the first Bryant rookie to post a multi-homer game since Kevin Brown on Mar. 27, 2010 at Monmouth.

Ward and junior Mickey Gasper (Merrimack, N.H.) hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the fifth in game two. Ward hit a two-run, opposite field home run and Gasper hit the very next pitch over the right field wall.

Sophomore Nick Angelini (Bedford, N.H.) also posted a multi-homer game on the weekend, hitting a pair in the series finale on Sunday. It was Angelini's first-career multi-homer game.

SCOUTING THE RAZORBACKS

Arkansas is coming off a three-game sweep of Miami of Ohio last weekend. The Razorbacks defeated the RedHawks 7-0, 5-1 and 11-1. Arkansas pitchers walked six and struck out 36 over the course of the weekend. All three starting pitchers, Blaine Knight, Trevor Stephan and Kevin Kopps, pitched less than five innings. Knight, who will pitch Friday, struck out five and allowed just three hits over four innings. Eric Cole led the way offensively, going 5-for-11 with a home run, three RBI and five runs scored.

The Razorbacks played the first three games of the year in front of a combined 29,354 fans. Arkansas averaged over 9,000 fans per game, setting a school record for attendance on opening weekend.