Arkansas is set to pitch right-hander Aiden Jimenez in their opening game against North Dakota State at the NCAA Fayetteville Regional on Friday. Jimenez, who has a solid performance record with a 3.37 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over 34 2/3 innings, will be making his second start of the season. His previous start was against Tennessee, where he faced challenges but was a reliable relief pitcher before that outing.
Coach Dave Van Horn indicated that starting Jimenez aligns with their game plan, emphasizing his skill as a strike thrower. The Razorbacks are focusing on winning the regional and have strategically decided to hold their top starter, All-SEC junior left-hander Zach Root, for a later game, depending on matchups against Kansas or Creighton.
North Dakota State, although having a left-handed dominant lineup, has shown balanced performance with a .251 batting average against lefties and .255 against righties. They will be countering Arkansas with Nolan Johnson, the Summit League pitcher of the year, who boasts a 4.14 ERA. Van Horn acknowledged Johnson’s capabilities, particularly his changeup, and stated that the team needs to leverage fastballs to counteract him effectively.
Van Horn also highlighted Johnson’s resilience and commitment shown during the Summit League Tournament, recognizing that a pitcher’s tenacity can inspire their teammates. With both teams arriving at this crucial matchup with strengths and strategies, fans can expect an exciting contest as Arkansas aims to assert its dominance early in the regional.
The optimism surrounding the Razorbacks’ pitching strategy and their resilience through the season adds a hopeful note as they prepare for this pivotal game.