FAYETTEVILLE -- Expect Arkansas pitching to change as abruptly as the Arkansas weather in the Razorbacks' season-opening series with Delaware State.
The pitching changes likely continue rapidly for most of the 16 nonconference games before the Razorbacks open their SEC season March 18-20 at Auburn.
Coming off a 43-21 2010 that took them all the way to NCAA Super Regionals, Arkansas opens play at 3 p.m. today at Baum Stadium followed by 1 p.m. games Saturday and Sunday with the Delaware State Hornets of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn and pitching coach Dave Jorn are evaluating a lot of young arms that need to be nurtured. Both will play Captain Hook and yank them quick to prevent confidence lost and games lost from overexposure.
"The key thing for us as coaches is 'Don't leave them in too long," Van Horn said.
Although 0-2 last year, sophomore right-hander DJ Baxendale's seven saves and 3.58 ERA makes him the one pitcher with a track record Van Horn truly can count upon.
During the conference season, Baxendale may open a series ready in the bullpen Friday and Saturday and possibly start Sunday if not overextended the previous two games.
But to start the season Baxendale starts for Arkansas today.
Baxendale will be on a 75 pitch count today, Van Horn said as will Saturday and Sunday starters Geoffrey Davenport, a junior left-hander 2-2 last season, and freshman right-hander Brandon Moore of Van Buren.
Moore had the best fall practices of this promising freshman pitching class, Van Horn said.
"He throws strikes and gets ground balls," the coach remarked.
Freshmen right-handers Ryne Stanek, turning down a third-round draft offer from the Seattle Mariners to pitch for the UA, and Forrest City's Barrett Austin open as closers.
The Razorbacks return their up the middle nucleus of catcher James McCann, second baseman Bo Bigham, shortstop Tim Carver and center fielder Collin Kuhn. Kuhn played more right and left the past two seasons but played center when since turned pro center fielder Brett Eibner pitched.
Freshman Matt Reynolds, a reserve middle infielder last season, opens at third with departed All-American Zack Cox turned pro.
Freshman Dominic Ficociello of Fullerton, Calif. succeeds turned pro slugger Andy Wilkins at first.
Van Horn and hitting coach Todd Butler audition a variety of candidates for left field, right field and DH.
Jarrod McKinney, the junior requiring knee surgery upon being injured 22 games into the season, sports the best arm of all the outfielders and likely will open in right if his knee permits.
Senior outfielder-first baseman-DH Kyle Robinson fits somewhere and likely will hit cleanup, Van Horn said.
Delaware State returns an experienced lineup, good news-bad news for the Hornets, it seems.
"They have every player back on their roster," Van Horn said, "but they did not have a very good year last year."
The Hornets were 13-36.