The Arkansas Razorbacks (46-13) are set to host the Fayetteville Super Regional as the No. 3 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament against the 14-seed and defending national champion Tennessee Volunteers (46-17) in a best-of-three series.
Arkansas rebounded from a 10-7 loss in the opening game of the regular season series finale against the Vols to take Game Two 8-6 and Game Three 8-4.
Since dropping that series, Tennessee took down Alabama and Texas in the SEC Tournament before eventual SEC champion Vanderbilt mercifully eliminated the Vols in the semifinal round 10-0 in seven innings.
In the Knoxville Regional, the Vols advanced to the final round against Wake Forrest by defeating Miami (Ohio) and Cincinnati. The Demon Deacons walked a runner home with the bases loaded in the ninth to survive 7-6 on Sunday and force the winner-take-all Monday showdown.
The Vols overcame an early two-run deficit, putting a seven-spot on the board in the fourth inning to roll on to an 11-5 triumph and their fifth consecutive Super Regional.
Tennessee ace and SEC Pitcher of the Year Liam Doyle had his worst outing of the season against Arkansas on May 16, as the Hogs tagged the likely top-10 pick in next month's MLB Draft for a season-high 11 hits and six earned runs.
After another tough showing against Texas (3.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER) in the quarterfinal round of the SEC Tournament, Doyle came back into form during regional play.
Against Miami (Ohio) in the opening game, Doyle struck out 11 batters while only surrendering one run and four hits in 6.2 innings, then shut the door on Wake Forrest Monday in 2.1 innings of relief.
Doyle headlines a deep pitching arsenal the Vols have at their disposal and first baseman Andrew Fischer, arguably the hardest out in the country, leads a powerful batting order.
Fischer and middle infielder Gavin Kilen, who each were selected first-team all SEC, have been red hot at the top of the lineup. Senior outfielder Hunter Ensley was named to the All-SEC second team as well as the All-Defensive squad.
Tennessee eighth-year head coach, and former Razorback assistant from 2014-2017, Tony Vitello has never won a series against Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn and has a 2-11 overall record against his former boss.
Arkansas and Tennessee will play the first game of the Fayetteville Super Regional on Saturday at 4 p.m. CT at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville and it will be aired on ESPN. Game Two is set for Sunday at 2 p.m. CT on ESPN and Monday's 'if necessary' game is TBD.
Below is a comparison of Arkansas and Tennessee's stats, as well as a look at the projected starting lineup and noteworthy pitchers for the Volunteers.
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