FORT SMITH, Ark. - University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Baseball gets its 2024 season underway this week as the Lions visit Oklahoma Christian.
The series has been moved up a day, with first pitch of game one at 6 p.m. Thursday. The series continues with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Friday and concludes Saturday with a single game at 1 p.m.
All four games will be streamed on the Lone Star Conference Digital Network with live stats available at uafortsmithlions.com.
NOTES:
LAST SEASON: UAFS finished the 2023 season with a 14-36, 12-36 LSC record.
SEASON OPENERS: The Lions have won their last 12 season openers.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Outfielder Michael Brinton and pitcher Jakob Petross were named as LSC Preseason Players to Watch. Brinton led the Lions with 10 home runs and 37 RBIs in 2023 while batting .249 with 42 hits, 11 doubles, 32 runs and five stolen bases. Petross appeared in 18 games last season, posting a 7.69 ERA and was second on the team with 51 strikeouts in 55.0 innings pitched. He allowed just three earned runs in his first 23.1 innings pitched last season out of the bullpen.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Catcher Ryan Riggs joins the Lions from South Arkansas Community College, where he hit .363 with six homers, 41 RBIs, 53 runs, and 14 doubles in 2023. He was also NJCAA DII World Series All-Tournament Team. Left-handed pitcher Sean Rhodes comes to UAFS after two seasons at Arkansas State – Mountain Home, where he posted a 4-0 record with a 4.60 ERA and struck out 32 in 31.1 innings.
HEAD COACH: Todd Holland begins his 10th season at the helm of the Lions, accumulating a 203-194 record in his first nine years.
SCOUTING OC: The Eagles split their series at UT Tyler last week after winning the last two games of the series. Infielder Hank Heiselbetz hit .357 with a home run and four RBIs in the opening series. On the mound, Brendan Kirchhoff earned a win after scattering just one hit over five scoreless innings with five strikeouts.
THE SERIES: UAFS is 21-21 all-time against Oklahoma Christian, with the teams having split the last six games.
