Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn took a calculated risk in Wednesday’s SEC Tournament game that might have a big payoff.
The Razorbacks didn’t send Hunter Dietz or Gabe Gaeckle to the mound against No. 10-seed Tennessee in a second round game in Hoover. Instead, they sent Tate McGuire who had just a handful of starts before Wednesday.
McGuire did his job to near-perfection. He gave up just one hit and a walk to the Volunteers while striking out three batters on 44 total pitches in the Razorbacks’ 8-4 win.
“I thought Tate did a great job of getting us off to a good start,” Van Horn said after Wednesday’s game. “He kept them off balance, but he threw a lot of strike ones. We could have sent him back out for the fourth, but this was definitely a bullpen day for us.
“We felt like if we could use our bullpen today and find a way to win, it sets us up a lot better. It gives some guys a little more rest and gets them back on track, so that really worked out.”
Add in what the Razorbacks’ did at the plate and that was enough to move on to the quarterfinals. More importantly, it sets up Arkansas to throw its best punches against one of the nation’s best teams, Texas.
The Razorbacks and Longhorns will square off for the first time at 3 p.m. Friday at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.
“(The Longhorns) bring a lot of challenges,” Van Horn said Wednesday. “They can pick one of those three starters, and they’re all just about as good as the other. You look at their numbers, and they’re just really good. They’re a solid team. They really don’t have any weaknesses.
“We’re going to do everything we can to try to beat them.”
Arkansas is set to do just that. Its best starter, left-hander Hunter Dietz, will step on the mound first. Texas, on the hand, is taking a different strategic approach.
Friday's starter: LHP Hunter Dietz pic.twitter.com/MM1WDDYo37
— Arkansas Baseball (@RazorbackBSB) May 21, 2026
The Longhorns aren’t starting Dylan Volantis (8-1, 2.05 ERA, .99 WHIP) or Ruger Riojas (5-2, 4.02 ERA, 1.11 WHIP) on Friday. They’re starting right-hander Cody Howard, who has made just five appearances this season.
Additionally, according to reports, Texas isn’t expect to use Riojas at all in Hoover and both Volantis and the third weekend starter, Luke Harrison, will be used in small relief roles, if at all.
It may look like Texas coach Jim Schlossnagle is waving the white flag on the SEC Tournament, but smart fans know its never that black-and-white. There are deeper reasons for the longhorns choosing this path.
The main reason is Texas is looking for a fourth starter, something every team will potentially need in NCAA Regionals and in the College World Series. This is a chance to try and find that pitcher. Another reason is it gives the bullpen more opportunities to get ready for the NCAA Tournament.
Also, pitching is just one aspect of baseball. Texas will still have its dangerous lineup that Arkansas pitchers’ will have to be at their best to keep at bay.
Held it down on the mound 🔒 pic.twitter.com/Tfvwb9DwnS
— Arkansas Baseball (@RazorbackBSB) May 21, 2026
Arkansas set itself up to take its best swing. Texas is using the week to solve a different puzzle. Both approaches make sense.
What happens Friday is simple: two teams with Omaha expectations meeting in a tournament that rarely gives anyone an easy path. Arkansas has its ace ready. Texas has its lineup. Everything else gets sorted out on the field.
