Spring sports are deep into the postseason grind. Arkansas baseball is preparing for the NCAA Tournament, while the softball team is battling in the Super Regionals with hopes of reaching Oklahoma City. Unfortunately, both squads ran into trouble against the Ole Miss Rebels.
Meanwhile, fall sports are in offseason mode, laying the groundwork for their upcoming campaigns. As for the media, the “talking season” has kicked off, bringing with it a wave of speculation and anonymous coaching commentary.
Arkansas Baseball Bows Out Early in SEC Tournament
The Razorbacks’ SEC Tournament run ended sooner than expected. As the No. 2 seed, they exited with a loss to Ole Miss—mirroring how they started SEC play earlier in the season.
Pitcher Zach Root, who had shown promise in recent games, again struggled against the Rebels. He surrendered seven hits and five earned runs over four innings, all of which came in a rough first inning. In their previous meeting, Root gave up 10 hits and seven runs in just three innings.
While the stat line is tough, some blame falls on the Arkansas defense. At least three Ole Miss runners reached base due to infield mishaps, although only one was officially recorded as an error. Two poor throws pulled first baseman Reese Robinett off the bag on what could’ve been double plays.
After the opening frame, the Hogs tightened up defensively, but their offense didn’t travel to Hoover. Aside from an RBI from Kuhio Aloy and a record-breaking inside-the-park homer by Cam Kozeal, Arkansas couldn’t muster much at the plate.
Now, the Diamond Hogs await their NCAA Tournament seed and regional draw, which will be announced Monday.
Adou Thiero and Karter Knox Eye Potential Returns
On a recent episode of the Eye on College Basketball podcast, CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander predicted that both Adou Thiero and Karter Knox are likely to return to Arkansas next season.
Knox’s return wouldn’t be a surprise—his draft exploration seemed more for experience. Thiero’s situation is more intriguing. If he does come back, it would be a huge boost for the Razorbacks, as he was their leading scorer last season.
However, Thiero recently added a layer of mystery with a TikTok post captioned “36 Days,” followed by a cryptic image. With the NBA draft withdrawal deadline looming on May 28 at 11:59 PM EST, fans won’t have to wait long for answers.
Softball Stays Alive with Super Regional Win
Arkansas softball is enjoying one of its best seasons ever, led by Softball America’s Player of the Year, Bri Ellis. But the program has historically struggled to get through the Regional and Super Regional stages.
That trend seemed poised to continue after a 9-7 loss to Ole Miss on Friday. The Razorbacks stranded 13 runners and failed to capitalize in key situations, including two bases-loaded chances.
But on Saturday, the Hogs bounced back. Freshman pitcher Payton Burnham, battling food poisoning just like ace Robyn Herron had the day before, pitched a complete-game shutout, allowing only three hits and striking out seven. The offense managed a pair of RBIs in the first and took advantage of two errors in the fifth to plate two more.
The winner-take-all finale is set for Sunday at 4:00 PM CST on ESPN2.
Anonymous Coaches Critique Razorbacks’ Roster
Athlon Sports’ annual feature of anonymous SEC coach comments brought some harsh criticism for Arkansas. Several coaches questioned head coach Sam Pittman’s job security and specifically pointed to the team’s roster as a concern.
Some stated the Razorbacks lack SEC-caliber talent, particularly along the offensive and defensive lines. Three of the five interviewed coaches expressed skepticism about the offensive line’s capabilities.
However, they did praise Arkansas’ receivers and quarterback Taylen Green, suggesting that success at those positions could be crucial for Pittman’s future in Fayetteville.