2020 Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team

The 2020 Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team represented the University of Arkansas in the 2020 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Razorbacks were coached by Dave Van Horn, in his 18th season with the Razorbacks, and played their home games at Baum–Walker Stadium.

2020 Arkansas Razorbacks baseball
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Division	Western Division
Ranking
Coaches	No. 10
CB	No. 13
Record	11–5 (0–0 SEC)
Head coach	Dave Van Horn (18th season)
Assistant coaches	Nate Thompson Matt Hobbs
Home stadium	Baum–Walker Stadium, Dickey–Stephens Park (Alternate)
Seasons ← 2019 2021 →

2020 Southeastern Conference baseball standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
Eastern
No. 1 Florida  ‍‍‍	0	–	0		–			16	–	1		.941
Tennessee  ‍‍‍	0	–	0		–			15	–	2		.882
No. 3 Georgia  ‍‍‍	0	–	0		–			14	–	4		.778
South Carolina  ‍‍‍	0	–	0		–			12	–	4		.750
No. 6 Vanderbilt  ‍‍‍	0	–	0		–			13	–	5		.722
Missouri •  ‍‍‍	0	–	0		–			11	–	5		.688
Kentucky  ‍‍‍	0	–	0		–			11	–	6		.647
Western
No. 8 Ole Miss  ‍‍‍	0	–	0		–			16	–	1		.941
Alabama  ‍‍‍	0	–	0		–			16	–	1		.941
Texas A&M  ‍‍‍	0	–	0		–			15	–	3		.833
No. 17 Mississippi State  ‍‍‍	0	–	0		–			12	–	4		.750
No. 18 Auburn  ‍‍‍	0	–	0		–			13	–	5		.722
No. 19 LSU  ‍‍‍	0	–	0		–			12	–	5		.706
No. 14 Arkansas  ‍‍‍	0	–	0		–			11	–	5		.688
‡ – Tournament champion – ineligible for postseason due to NCAA sanctions As of March 12, 2020[1] Rankings from D1Baseball

On March 17, 2020, the season was officially declared over due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[2] The Razorbacks had a record of 11–5 when the season was cancelled.

Preseason

The Razorbacks played a two-game fall exhibition schedule; the Razorbacks opened on September 20 against Oklahoma at home, falling 3–4 in 14 innings.^[3] On October 12, the Hogs traveled to Allie P. Reynolds Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma to take on Oklahoma State, to whom they lost 2–7 in 14 innings.^[4]

Preseason All-American teams

1st team

• Heston Kjerstad - Outfielder (Perfect Game)^[5]
• Casey Martin - Shortstop (Perfect Game)^[5]
• Heston Kjerstad - Outfielder (Collegiate Baseball)^[6]
• Heston Kjerstad - Outfielder (Baseball America)^[7]
• Casey Martin - Shortstop (Baseball America)^[7]

2nd team

• Casey Martin - Shortstop (Collegiate Baseball)^[6]

3rd team

• Casey Opitz - Catcher (Baseball America)^[7]

Personnel

Roster

2020 Arkansas Razorbacks roster
	Pitchers 13 Connor Noland - Sophomore 20 Elijah Trest - Sophomore 21 Jacob Burton - Sophomore 26 Travis Hester - Freshman 27 Blake Adams - Freshman (OF) 28 Kole Ramage - Junior 29 Marshall Denton - Junior 31 Caleb Bolden - Sophomore 32 Zack Morris - Freshman 33 Patrick Wicklander - Sophomore 34 Kevin Heinrich - Freshman 36 Peyton Pallette - Freshman 37 Caden Monke - Sophomore 38 Mark Adamiak - Freshman 39 Evan Taylor - Sophomore 40 Corey Spain - Freshman 41 Will McEntire - Freshman 43 Miller Pleimann - Sophomore 44 Collin Taylor - Junior 45 Kevin Kopps - Junior 46 Carter Sells - Sophomore 49 Liam Henry - Sophomore 51 Hunter Milligan - Sophomore 57 Nathan Rintz - Freshman 58 Evan Gray - Freshman 88 Zebulon Vermillion - Junior		Catchers 7 Dominic Tamez - Freshman (OF) 11 Cason Tollett - Freshman (1B) 12 Casey Opitz - Junior Infielders 1 Robert Moore - Freshman 3 Zack Gregory - Freshman 4 Cullen Smith - Junior 5 Jacob Nesbit - Sophomore 8 Braydon Webb - Junior (OF) 10 Matt Goodheart - Junior (OF) 15 Casey Martin - Junior 16 Cole Austin - Senior 17 Jesse Pierce - Freshman (OF)		Outfielders 18 Heston Kjerstad - Junior 19 Trey Harris - Sophomore 22 Curtis Washington Jr. - Sophomore (INF) 24 Bryce Matthews - Freshman 25 Christian Franklin - Sophomore

Coaching staff

Arkansas Razorbacks coaches
Dave Van Horn	Head coach	18th
Nate Thompson	Assistant coach/recruiting coordinator	3rd
Matt Hobbs	Pitching coach	2nd
Taylor Smart	Volunteer assistant	2nd
Clay Goodwin	Director of baseball operations	13th
Reference:[8]

Schedule and results

The full schedule, including all games that were scheduled but not played, is listed below.

Legend
	Arkansas win
	Arkansas loss
	Postponement
Bold	Arkansas team member

2020 Arkansas Razorbacks Baseball Game Log
Regular Season (11–5)
February (7–2) Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Att. Record SEC Feb. 14 Eastern Illinois* No. 7 Baum–Walker Stadium Fayetteville, Arkansas W 5–1 C. Noland (1–0) W. Klein (0–1) SECN+ 9,188 1–0 Feb. 15 Eastern Illinois* No. 7 Baum–Walker Stadium W 10–1 P. Wicklander (1–0) T. Nicholson (0–1) SECN+ 10,814 2–0 Feb. 16 Eastern Illinois* No. 7 Baum–Walker Stadium W 12–3 K. Ramage (1–0) F. Anshutz (0–1) SECN+ 9,116 3–0 Feb. 20 Gonzaga* No. 7 Baum–Walker Stadium W 7–5 C. Monke (1–0) J. Rutherford (0–1) Z. Vermillion (1) SECN+ 7,754 4–0 Feb. 21 Gonzaga* No. 7 Baum–Walker Stadium W 9–3 C. Noland (2–0) M. Lardner (0–1) SECN+ 8,645 5–0 Feb. 22 Gonzaga* No. 7 Baum–Walker Stadium W 5–0 P. Wicklander (2–0) A. Jacob (0–1) SECN+ 10,536 6–0 Feb. 23 Gonzaga* No. 7 Baum–Walker Stadium W 9–5 M. Denton (1–0) N. Troglic-Iverson (0–2) SECN+ 7,615 7–0 Feb. 28 vs. No. 22 Oklahoma* No. 6 Minute Maid Park Houston, Texas L 3–6 W. Olds (3–0) K. Kopps (0–1) J. Ruffcorn (4) 7–1 Feb. 29 vs. Texas* No. 6 Minute Maid Park L 7–8 T. Madden (3–1) P. Wicklander (2–1) A. Duplantier (2) 15,972 7–2
March (4–3) Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Att. Record SEC Mar. 1 vs. Baylor* No. 6 Minute Maid Park L 2–3 H. Kettler (2–1) K. Ramage (1–1) L. Boyd (5) 11,528 7–3 Mar. 3 Illinois State* No. 13 Baum–Walker Stadium L 7–8 C. Peplow (1–0) C. Monke (1–1) C. Johnson (1) SECN+ 7,874 7–4 Mar. 6 South Alabama* No. 13 Baum–Walker Stadium L 6–13 D. Nightengale (1–0) P. Wicklander (2–2) J. Dalton (2) SECN+ 8,629 7–5 Mar. 7 South Alabama* No. 13 Baum–Walker Stadium W 15–2 C. Bolden (1–0) M. Smith (0–2) SECN+ 12,006 8–5 Mar. 8 South Alabama* No. 13 Baum–Walker Stadium W 5–3 Z. Vermillion (1–0) N. Michael (0–1) SECN+ 8,463 9–5 Mar. 10 Grand Canyon* No. 14 Baum–Walker Stadium W 6–1 W. McEntire (1–0) C. Lambert (0–1) C. Monke (1) SECN+ 7,871 10–5 Mar. 11 Grand Canyon* No. 14 Baum–Walker Stadium W 10–9 Z. Morris (1–0) Z. Barnes (2–1) P. Pallette (1) SECN+ 7,876 11–5 Mar. 13 at Mississippi State Dudy Noble Field Starkville, Mississippi SECN+ Mar. 14 at Mississippi State Dudy Noble Field SECN Mar. 15 at Mississippi State Dudy Noble Field Mar. 17 vs. Oklahoma* Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark Oklahoma City, Oklahoma SECN+ Mar. 20 Alabama Baum–Walker Stadium SECN+ Mar. 21 Alabama Baum–Walker Stadium SECN+ Mar. 22 Alabama Baum–Walker Stadium SECN+ Mar. 24 at Troy* Riddle–Pace Field Troy, Alabama Mar. 25 at Troy* Riddle–Pace Field Mar. 27 at Ole Miss Swayze Field Oxford, Mississippi ESPNU Mar. 28 at Ole Miss Swayze Field SECN Mar. 29 at Ole Miss Swayze Field SECN Mar. 31 Oral Roberts* Baum–Walker Stadium SECN+
April (0–0) Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Att. Record SEC Apr. 2 Florida Baum–Walker Stadium ESPNU Apr. 3 Florida Baum–Walker Stadium SECN+ Apr. 4 Florida Baum–Walker Stadium SECN+ Apr. 7 Little Rock* Baum–Walker Stadium SECN+ Apr. 9 Texas A&M Baum–Walker Stadium SECN Apr. 10 Texas A&M Baum–Walker Stadium SECN Apr. 11 Texas A&M Baum–Walker Stadium SECN+ Apr. 14 Missouri State* Baum–Walker Stadium SECN+ Apr. 17 at LSU Alex Box Stadium Baton Rouge, Louisiana SECN+ Apr. 18 at LSU Alex Box Stadium ESPNU Apr. 19 at LSU Alex Box Stadium SECN+ Apr. 21 at Michigan State* John H. Kobs Field East Lansing, Michigan Apr. 22 at Michigan State* John F. Kobs Field Apr. 24 Auburn Baum–Walker Stadium SECN+ Apr. 25 Auburn Baum–Walker Stadium SECN+ Apr. 26 Auburn Baum–Walker Stadium SECN+ Apr. 28 Arkansas–Pine Bluff* Baum–Walker Stadium SECN+ Apr. 29 Arkansas–Pine Bluff* Dickey–Stephens Park North Little Rock, Arkansas
May (0–0) Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Att. Record SEC May 1 at South Carolina Founders Park Columbia, South Carolina SECN+ May 2 at South Carolina Founders Park SECN May 3 at South Carolina Founders Park SECN May 8 Georgia Baum–Walker Stadium SECN+ May 9 Georgia Baum–Walker Stadium SECN+ May 10 Georgia Baum–Walker Stadium ESPN2 May 14 at Tennessee Lindsey Nelson Stadium Knoxville, Tennessee SECN+ May 15 at Tennessee Lindsey Nelson Stadium SECN+ May 16 at Tennessee Lindsey Nelson Stadium SECN+ *Denotes non–conference game • Schedule source • Rankings based on the teams' current ranking in the D1Baseball poll

^[9]

February

Eastern Illinois weekend series

		Gm 1	Gm 2	Gm 3
	Eastern Illinois	1	1	3
7	Arkansas	5	10	12
Baum–Walker Stadium • Fayetteville, AR
	Arkansas wins series, 3–0

The Razorbacks opened their 2020 season with a weekend series at home against the Eastern Illinois Panthers, starting Friday, February 14. Arkansas received preseason rankings of #7 by D1Baseball,^[10] #9 by Collegiate Baseball,^[11] and #11 by Baseball America.^[12] First pitch on opening day was at 3:00 p.m. CST, followed by 2:00 p.m. on Saturday and 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Connor Noland started the season on the mound for the Hogs; after allowing a leadoff single, he retired the next two batters on strikes and the third out came by way of a pickoff. In the bottom of the first, preseason All-American Heston Kjerstad drove in an RBI with a single to left field, giving the Razorbacks an early lead. The next three innings were scoreless for both teams, but the Arkansas offense came back to life in the fifth. Christian Franklin, with two outs, launched a two-run home run deep, scoring himself and Braydon Webb and giving the Hogs a 3–0 lead. Kjerstad added to the lead five pitches later with a home run of his own, extending the lead to four runs. EIU found the scoreboard in the top of the seventh on a fielding error, but Kjerstad made up for it with another solo home run, his second of the contest. From there, the Razorbacks were able to hold the score at 5–1 for an opening day win.^[13] For his 6+2⁄3 innings of work, Noland received the win; he threw 86 pitches. Marshall Denton (1+1⁄3 innings) and Kevin Kopps (1 inning) also spend time on the mound for the Hogs. Will Klein was the losing pitcher; he was in the game for 5+2⁄3 innings and was relieved by Blayke Cutts for the last 2+1⁄3 innings of the contest.

Gonzaga weekend series

		Gm 1	Gm 2	Gm 3	Gm 4
	Gonzaga	5	3	0	5
7	Arkansas	7	9	5	9
Baum–Walker Stadium • Fayetteville, AR
	Arkansas wins series, 4–0

The Razorbacks' second weekend series of the year will be at home against the Gonzaga Bulldogs, with the first game on Thursday, February 20. Thursday and Friday's games will begin at 3:00 p.m., Saturday's at 2:00 p.m., and Sunday's at 1:00 p.m.

Shriners College Classic, games 1–2

		Gm 1
	Oklahoma
	Arkansas
Minute Maid Park • Houston, TX

The Razorbacks will close out February with an appearance in the Shriners College Classic, held in Houston. They will open tournament play against the Oklahoma Sooners on Friday, February 28; first pitch will be at 3:00 p.m.

		Gm 2
	Texas
	Arkansas
Minute Maid Park • Houston, TX

The Razorbacks' second tournament matchup will be on Saturday, February 29 against the Texas Longhorns, with first pitch at 7:00 p.m.

March

Shriners College Classic, game 3

		Gm 3
	Baylor
	Arkansas
Minute Maid Park • Houston, TX

The Razorbacks will close tournament play on Sunday, March 1, when they take on Baylor at 7:00 p.m.

Illinois State midweek game

		Gm 1
	Illinois State
	Arkansas
Baum–Walker Stadium • Fayetteville, AR

The Razorbacks will return home to play a midweek game on Tuesday, March 3, when they take on Illinois State at 3:00 p.m.

Rankings

Main article: 2020 NCAA Division I baseball rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	Final
Coaches'[14]	5	5*	5*	10	15	14
Baseball America[15]	11	11	9	13	14
Collegiate Baseball^[16]	9	9	3	13	15	14
NCBWA†[17]	6	6	2	11	16
D1Baseball[18]	7	7	6	13	14

^ Collegiate Baseball ranked 40 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranked 30 teams weekly during the season.
† NCBWA ranks 35 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season.
* A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.

2020 MLB Draft

Main article: 2020 MLB Draft

Player	Position	Round	Overall	MLB Team
Heston Kjerstad	OF	1	2	Baltimore Orioles
Casey Martin	SS	3	87	Philadelphia Phillies