Arkansas vs. Kansas: How to Watch, Pitching Matchup and Regional Stakes

Updated game time in Lawrence ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/geYk8Vst6f

— Arkansas Baseball (@RazorbackBSB) May 30, 2026

Saturday is a very important game for Arkansas.

Based on past history, the outcome of Saturday evening’s NCAA Regional game will determine if the Razorbacks spend the next practicing or cleaning out the locker room.

In the last 18 NCAA Regional tournaments Arkansas has been in they’ve started 2-0 nine times and advanced to the Super Regionals each time. The other half of the times it didn’t start 2-0, Arkansas’ season ended that weekend.

The Razorbacks are sitting at 1-0 now after a 9-5 win Friday against Missouri State. To get to 2-0 they’ll have to defeat a team it hasn’t seen on the field since 2011.

Here’s everything to know about Saturday’s game between Arkansas and Kansas.

The Opponent: Kansas Jayhawks

Kansas looks a lot like the team Arkansas saw in last year’s Fayetteville Regional, but the Jayhawks are swinging their bats much better this time around. They’ve hit 102 home runs and carry a .289 team average into the postseason.

Shortstop Tyson LeBlanc sets the tone. He leads Kansas in average (.339), homers (21) and RBI (60), and he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Big 12 Tournament. The middle of the order has some punch too. Josh Dykhoff, Augusto Mungarrieta and Cade Baldridge have combined for 37 home runs.

Defense has been an issue. Kansas sits at .974 in the field, which mirrors some of Arkansas’ own inconsistency this season.

The pitching staff hasn’t been dominant either. The team ERA is 5.33, and Mason Cook is the only regular starter with an ERA under 4.50. Dominic Voegele has the best strikeout numbers with 108, but he’s also allowed 12 home runs and opponents are hitting .257 against him.

Starting Pitchers

LHP Hunter Dietz vs. RHP Mason Cook

• Dietz: 7-3, 3.40 ERA, 79.1 IP, 66 H, 36 R, 30 ER, 29 BB, 117 SO, .222 Opp. BA
• Cook: 5-1, 4.26 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 61.1 IP, 54 H, 32 R, 29 ER, 24 BB, 64 SO, .237 Opp. BA

Today's starter: LHP Hunter Dietz pic.twitter.com/pEilRYvmho

— Arkansas Baseball (@RazorbackBSB) May 30, 2026

Weather Forecast

Rainy weather is back in the forecast for Saturday in Lawrence, but it should be all clear for the Razorbacks’ and Jayhawks’ NCAA Regional game.

According to the National Weather Service, Saturday afternoon has “A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Southeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.”

The nighttime forecast also includes rain, but after the game. “Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between 11pm and 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.”

How to Watch: Arkansas vs. Kansas, NCAA Regional

• Who: Arkansas Razorbacks (40-20, 17-13 SEC) vs. Kansas Jayhawks (43-16, 22-8 Big 12)
• When: 5:30 p.m., Saturday
• Where: Hoglund Ballpark, Lawrence, Kan.
• TV: ESPN2
• Radio: Live Radio
• Stats: Live Stats
• Series History: Arkansas leads the all-time series 17-6
• Last Meeting: Arkansas 4, Kansas 2 (March 15, 2011)
• Last time out, Razorbacks: def. Missouri State, 9-5
• Last time out, Jayhawks: def. Northeastern, 6-3

Brrr! Someone call the dentist! pic.twitter.com/uTV3V3IjG4

— Arkansas Baseball (@RazorbackBSB) May 30, 2026

Lawrence NCAA Regional Breakdown