The #20 DI Razorbacks (8-9-0) are set to take on #25 Illinois State University at home on Friday at 8:30 pm and Saturday at 7:30 pm. The teams are no stranger to one another, having met for a pair of games earlier in the season in Bloomington, Illinois.  Arkansas notched a 4-2 victory against Illinois State on Friday, September 25, but Illinois State handed the Hogs its most lopsided loss of the season the next night, defeating the Razorbacks 8-2.

Arkansas comes into the weekend after earning its first home sweep of the season at the expense of arch-rival Alabama by a pair of 4-1 scores last weekend.  The two victories elevated the team four spots in the national rankings to #20—the highest ranking in the team’s short Division I history.  #25 Illinois State (5-9-2) arrives in Springdale following a split with #14 Illinois.  Following a 7-2 loss to the Fighting Illini last Saturday, Illinois State came back on Saturday to earn a dominant 7-1 win.

Meanwhile, the DIII Hogs (13-1-1) head to Dallas for a pair of games in the Dallas Showcase, hosted by Dallas Baptist University.  On Friday, Arkansas takes on Texas Tech at 7:00 pm at the Farmer’s Branch Dr. Pepper Starcenter.  The two programs have not met since the Red Raiders visited Springdale on October 26 & 27 of 2012 when Arkansas swept Tech by decisive 8-1 and 6-2 scores.  Arkansas has lost just once to Texas Tech—a 4-2 loss on October 11, 2009.

The DIII Razorbacks close out the showcase against host DBU on Saturday at 2:00 pm (also at the Farmer’s Branch Dr. Pepper Starcenter).  The Hogs and Patriots tangled last season in a pair of games at the Jones Center on January 23 & 24 of this year.  Arkansas earned a sweep by 9-1 and 7-0 scores.  Arkansas has never lost to DBU.