NCAA Regional Profile: #3 National Seed Arkansas hosts in Fayetteville, AR

(NCAA photo/CBC image)

By College Baseball Central writers Micah Beutell, Bo Carter, Noah Darling, Caleb Donnelley, Mark Garland, Andrew Kube, Doug Kyle, Jake Mastroianni, Jake McKeever, Andrew Riedell, and Colton Watson

Host: Arkansas Razorbacks (Baum-Walker Stadium at George Cole Field)

1. Arkansas (43-13, 20-10 Southeastern Conference)

2. Kansas (43-15, 20-10 Big 12 Conference)

3. Creighton (41-14 17-4 Big East Conference)

4. North Dakota State (20-32, 13-15 Summit League)

#1 Arkansas

RPI* 5  SOS 14  Record vs Q1: 14-10 Q2: 2-2

Coming into 2025, many were tabbing Arkansas as having the best pitching staff in all of college baseball. The concern was around whether or not they would score enough.

Early on, it looked like they would struggle at the plate once again. But when the bats got rolling, suddenly Arkansas had the best offense in the conference to go along with a dominant pitching staff.

Overall, Arkansas led the SEC in hitting with a .316 average and 491 runs scored. And they were third in the conference with 109 home runs. Wehiwa Aloy took a big jump from 2024 to win the SEC Player of the Year by hitting .352 with 17 doubles and 18 home runs to go along with 73 runs scored and 58 RBI.

They had six players finish with double-digit doubles and homers. That list includes Charles Davalan, Kuhio Aloy, Cam Kozeal, Ryder Helfrick, Brent Iredale, and Wehiwa.

While the pitching was good, finishing fifth in the conference with a 4.12 ERA, it didn’t quite live up to the lofty expectations placed on them. Gabe Gaeckle’s transition to the rotation didn’t work out, but once they moved him back to the bullpen, he got back to his dominant self. Zach Root led the rotation with a 4.07 ERA in 79.2 innings with 106 strikeouts. Gage Wood missed most of the season, but delivered some big starts late in conference play.

There is a plethora of dominant arms in that bullpen, including Aiden Jimenez, Christian Foutch, and Carson Wiggins. The Razorbacks are a lock to be a national seed despite their early exit in Hoover. This is the most balanced team in the conference, but they have struggled with consistency at times.

It’s difficult to see this team not making a trip to Omaha, and perhaps this is the group that can bring head coach Dave Van Horn that elusive College World Series championship. 

#2 Kansas

RPI* 24  SOS 70  Record vs Q1: 5-7 Q2: 11-4

Qualifying for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014, the Kansas Jayhawks under Head Coach Dan Fitzgerald have made national headlines this season. 

In 2025, Kansas set records both in attendance and in on-field statistics. KU ranks 24th in RPI thanks to a 5-7 record against Q1 opponents while going 11-4 against Q2.   The Jayhawks have set a new program-high for victories in a season to include notching 26 in come-from-behind fashion. 

Jayhawk players have identified themselves as the “Never Say Die” Jayhawks this season, performing with a quiet confidence despite a lack of national success in the program’s history.  Kansas reached the College World Series in 1993, though have not advanced out of a regional since.  With Fitzgerald at the helm, the Jayhawks have found success in recruiting the JUCO level, leading to a roster loaded with baseball experience. 

The Jayhawks are led by JUCO transfers Brady Ballinger, Dariel Osoria and Jackson Hauge offensively, while fellow junior college implant Derek Cerda is a vacuum in center field. 

On the mound, KU employs a 1-2 punch of 2024 Big 12 Freshman of the Year Dom Voegele and fellow Sophomore Cooper Moore.  Voegele has been up and down this season while Moore dazzled to end the regular season.  The Jayhawks utilize Alex Breckheimer in save situations, though can also rely on Malakia Vetock, Thaniel Trumper and Manning West in high leverage moments. 

In order to find success in Fayetteville, the Jayhawks will require quality starting pitching. Offensively, Kansas will aim to be less-reliant on the long ball, employing a string of base hits for big innings, though Ballinger and Hauge remain constant threats to leave the yard.

#3 Creighton

RPI* 46  SOS 158  Record vs Q1: 3-0 Q2: 10-4

The Big East Tournament Champion Blue Jays stroll into the NCAA Tournament with a 41-14 record in Head Coach Ed Servais’ final year in Omaha. 

The Blue Jays defeated St. Johns, Xavier and UConn to win the BIg East crown and boast regular season victories over NCAA Tournament teams Kansas State and Nebraska, though CU has also suffered a loss to regional-mate North Dakota State. 

Creighton is led offensively by Nolan Sailors and his .392 average.  Sailors has notched 82 base hits on the year across 55 games. Connor Capece, Matt Scherrman and Ben North also present as Blue Jays hitting over .300 this season.  On the mound, the Blue Jays turn Dominic Cancellieri, Wilson Magers and Ian Koosman while Garrett Langrell proves to be a dominant bullpen piece, recording 13 saves on the year. 

The Blue Jays will aim to win the Fayetteville Regional by playing for their retiring Head Coach, though offensively will aim to ride Nolan Sailors for momentum at the top of the lineup.  The pair of Cancellieri and Langrell will pose as a dangerous 1-2 punch for the Jayhawks to manage in game one on Friday, though the Blue Jays would treasure the opportunity to keep Langrell fresh for Saturday, if able.  

#4 North Dakota State

RPI* 141  SOS 93  Record vs Q1: 2-13 Q2: 2-3

The Bison qualified for an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by winning the Summit League Tournament, defeating Omaha and Oral Roberts. This season, they have played NCAA Tournament teams Dallas Baptist, Alabama, LSU, Creighton and Oklahoma State, while also tangling with quality opponents in Minnesota, Lamar, Oral Roberts and UTRGV.

Under Head Coach Tyler Oakes, NDSU is led offensively by shortstop Jake Schaffner, while Davis Hamilton and Dante Smith join him in hitting over .300 this season. 

On the mound, Nolan Johnson and Logan Knight present as a quality 1-2 punch on Fridays and Saturdays for the Bison, while Danny Lachenmayer is often turned to in late-inning situations. 

The Bison will root for chaos in the Fayetteville Regional, seeing how fellow 4-seed SEMO enjoyed success at Baum Walker Field in 2024.  The Summit League Champion Oral Roberts famously reached Omaha in 2023, though it did so on the back of a stronger regular season performance.

*****

*-Warren Nolan RPI