Baseball
Razorbacks, Vols set for Super Regional showdown at Baum-Walker Stadium
Two SEC powerhouses collide as Arkansas and Tennessee battle for a College World Series berth in Fayetteville
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The road to Omaha runs through Fayetteville this weekend as No. 6 Arkansas (46-13) hosts Tennessee (46-17).
It could be an electric Super Regional matchup at Baum-Walker Stadium.
The series, which begins Saturday at 4 p.m. on ESPN, marks a reunion between mentor and protégé.
Tennessee coach Tony Vitello, fresh off a 2024 national championship, returns to face his former boss Dave Van Horn in a contest laden with storylines and championship implications.
“This stadium has been special this year,” Van Horn said, referring to Arkansas’ school-record 35 wins at home this season.
The Razorbacks have transformed Baum-Walker into a fortress, though Tennessee proved capable of breaching those walls during their regular-season series in May, taking the opener before dropping two straight.
The pitching matchup for Game 1 remains intriguing, with both coaches playing their cards close to the vest.
Arkansas is expected to send junior Zach Root to the mound, seeking redemption after a short outing against the Volunteers in their previous meeting.
Tennessee’s pitching situation presents more questions, as ace Liam Doyle threw 2.1 innings in Monday’s regional clincher against Wake Forest.
“We’ve got some decisions to make,” Vitello said regarding his rotation.
The Volunteers could opt to start Marcus Phillips, who went 4.1 innings in the teams’ last series, giving Doyle additional rest before a potential Game 2 appearance.
The Razorbacks enter the series with a fresher bullpen, having used only nine pitchers throughout their regional sweep.
Key relievers Dylan Carter, Will McEntire, Cole Gibler, and Christian Foutch haven’t pitched since the SEC Tournament, providing Van Horn with multiple high-leverage options.
This matchup represents the only all-SEC Super Regional in 2025, highlighting the conference’s continued dominance in college baseball.
The stakes couldn’t be higher – the winner advances to the College World Series in Omaha, where both programs have unfinished business.
Arkansas seeks its seventh College World Series appearance under Van Horn, while Tennessee aims to defend its national title.
The history between these programs adds another layer of intrigue, as Arkansas hasn’t dropped a regular-season series to Tennessee since 2005.
The atmosphere at Baum-Walker Stadium promises to be electric.
Arkansas has consistently ranked among college baseball’s attendance leaders, and this weekend should produce capacity crowds.
The stadium’s record attendance of 13,472 could be challenged given the magnitude of this matchup.
“These are the moments you live for in college baseball,” Van Horn said. “Two great programs, fantastic players on both sides, and an opportunity to go to Omaha on the line.”
The series schedule features Game 2 on Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPN, with a potential Game 3 on Monday if necessary.
Both teams navigated different paths through their regionals – Arkansas swept through their bracket while Tennessee needed a Monday elimination game victory over Wake Forest to advance.
Beyond the obvious storylines, this series features two of college baseball’s most dynamic offenses. Both teams rank in the top 10 nationally in home runs, setting up potential fireworks in a stadium known for surrendering long balls in the right conditions.
The winner of this series will carry the SEC banner to Omaha, where the conference has historically dominated.
With multiple upsets in the regional round eliminating several top seeds, the path to a national championship appears more open than usual, adding extra weight to every pitch this weekend in Fayetteville.
