Washington State

Darr bunts later in the year.

The Razorbacks began the season with three games against Washington State. The schedule was changed to a doubleheader on February 20 due to cold weather.^[8] Ben Tschepikow, a senior infielder, hit a 2-run home run in the fourth inning that provided the winning margin.^[9] The second game was ended Andrew Darr's walk-off home run.^[10] The next game took place on February 22, and Darr was again the hero, this time in the form of a squeeze.^[11] Arkansas was ranked 22nd in most polls for the series.

Kansas

House hit a walk-off home run against the Jayhawks on March 25.

Kansas came to Fayetteville for a two-game series with the Diamond Hogs from February 24–27. After dropping the opener pitched by Brett Eibner,^[12] the Hogs won the next contest on a Jacob House walk-off home run.^[13] House, an occasional starter at first base, entered the game as a pinch hitter in the eighth and delivered a liner that got past the Jayhawk first baseman.^[13] The Sophomore delivered again, a walk-off home run in the 10th inning which gave the Razorbacks the win.^[13]

Western Illinois

The Razorbacks began a three-game series against the Leathernecks of Western Illinois University, a game that was won on a Brett Eibner triple in the tenth inning.^[14] Stephen Richards, a junior pitcher, earned his second consecutive win in the game.^[14] The remaining two games were cancelled due to a snowstorm.^[15][16]

Valparaiso

Richards later in the year.

Redshirt freshman Drew Smyly quieted the Crusader's bats, while Bo Bigham ignited the Razorback sticks, ending in a 7–3 Hog win on March 3.^[17] The two teams met in Baum Stadium met again on March 4, with Andy Wilkins swatting his fourth home run of the year. Valpo began to claw back into the game late, but Stephen Richards pitched a scoreless ninth, giving the Hogs a 9–6 win.^[18] Arkansas was ranked #21 in most polls throughout the series with Valpo.

California

The Razorbacks met their second Pac-10 team, the California Golden Bears, in Baum Stadium. Game 1 was packed with excitement, including a tying home run by Ben Tschepikow in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, and a game winning squeeze by Collin Kuhn.^[19] Game two was marred by Razorback errors, giving the 12–6 decision to Cal despite Chase Leavitt going 3 for 3 with two walks.^[20] Drew Smyly delivered a strong outing against the Bears in game three, with Leavitt producing a four hit game. Eibner and Darr hit home runs and Zack Cox hit a triple, giving the Hogs the game and series.^[21] Arkansas broke their previous attendance record for a non-conference series with the three game set against Cal, when a total of 21,429 fans attended the three game series.^[22]

Centenary

Arkansas hit the road for the first time in 2009 for a midweek series with Centenary College of Louisiana. The Hogs had won 25 straight games against the Gentlemen before a 5–1 defeat in 2008.^[23] Game 1 ended in an 8–3 Razorback defeat, and the second game was rained out.^[24][25]

#17 Florida

Mike Bolsinger picks off UF outfielder Avery Barnes in game 2.

The Gators came to Fayetteville for a three-game SEC series. This was the conference opener for both squads. The first game was a decisive Razorbacks victory, with Dallas Keuchel earning the 11–4 win.^[26] On the following day, Arkansas defeated the Gators 8–4 thanks to a six run second inning.^[27] The Sunday game was tied 2–2 until the eighth inning, when Brian McKinney cut and missed on a 3–2 pitch that went into the dirt. The runner advanced to first, when he unintentionally kicked the ball out of UF catcher Buddy Munroe's range. This allowed Ben Tschepikow to score from third base giving the Hogs the lead. Munroe argued that the kick was intentional, a case also argued by Florida coach Kevin O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan was ejected and the Razorbacks tacked on an extra run, giving the Hogs a 4–2 win, 3–0 SEC record, and sweep of Florida.^[28]

Nebraska

Ben Tschepikow's 11-game hitting streak ended in the second game against the Cornhuskers.

The Razorbacks were 7–7 against Nebraska entering the two-game series. In the first game, the Hogs wore green hats for Saint Patrick's Day, and seven different Razorbacks got a hit on the way to a 7–3 Arkansas victory.^[29] The second game was led 4–1 by Arkansas until a six-run ninth inning.^[30] Andy Wilkins hit two home runs in the contest.

Auburn

Arkansas entered Plainsman Park on March 20 for a three-game series with Auburn. The first game was a 3–2 Arkansas victory decided by a Ryan Cisterna ninth-inning home run.^[31] The next day, Chase Leavitt, Scott Lyons, Jacob House and Collin Kuhn each had two hits in a 10–6 defeat of the Tigers, giving Arkansas a 5–0 start in the SEC for the first time in Razorbacks history.^[32] The third game was decided by a four-run first inning, with Ben Tschepikow collecting four hits in the game.^[33]

Missouri State

The Missouri State Bears came to Fayetteville for a single game, a 10–0 Razorbacks win. The Hogs recorded 18 strikeouts, a school record, with Brett Eibner striking out seven.^[34]

Mississippi State

Mississippi State traveled to Arkansas to meet the Razorbacks, who were 3–0 in SEC play. The first game was suspended by rain, but ended a 20–9 Razorbacks win.^[35] Dallas Keuchel's outing was ended prematurely when rain poured, suspending the game in the fifth inning.^[36] After game 1 was completed, the two teams decided to play a doubleheader of seven innings games on Sunday. T. J. Forrest started the afternoon on the mound for the Razorbacks, winning a 5–1 decision.^[37] The second game of the day was dropped to the Bulldogs, 12-4.^[37] MSU leadoff man Grant Hogue went 4 for 4, scoring 4 runs.

Missouri State

The Bears entered the contest winning nine of ten, but again met Brett Eibner, whose two solo home runs thrust the Hogs to a 2–0 victory.^[38] The win pushed the Razorbacks' March record to 15-4.

#23 South Carolina

Dallas Keuchel earned the win as Zack Cox hit a three-run home run to give the Razorbacks the first game of a three-game series, played in brand-new Carolina Stadium.^[39] The Gamecocks returned the following day and issued the Hogs a 9–1 thumping, with Scott Lyons driving in the only Razorbacks run.^[40] Arkansas would pull out the rubber game, however, a 7–4 victory for Mike Bolsinger.^[41]

#1 Arizona State

The #1 Arizona State Sun Devils came to Fayetteville for the back end of a two-year home-and-home midweek series, with Arkansas also ranked #1 entering the game.^[42] The Hogs dropped both games to ASU in 2008, but returned the favor in 2009. Game 1 marked the first #1 vs #1 matchup in Baum Stadium, and Game 2 set the then-Baum record for highest attendance, with 11,434 patrons witnessing the Hogs 8–7 victory.

The first game featured a five-run Razorback seventh inning, sparked by a leadoff walk to Chase Leavitt followed by Tom Hauskey, Ben Tschepikow, Andrew Darr, and Scott Lyons all recording hits in the inning.^[43] Stephen Richards recorded his fifth save as the game ended a 7–3 Razorbacks win. Arkansas then defeated ASU a second time on April 8, an 8–7 win.^[44] The game was decided by Tim Carver single in the fifth inning, completing the transformation from a 6–1 deficit in the third inning.

Vanderbilt

Arkansas and Vanderbilt met in Baum Stadium for a three-game SEC series. The Razorbacks, fresh off two victories over number 1 Arizona State, dropped both games, with the third being cancelled due to rain.^[45] In the two games, Arkansas committed eight errors and gave up a nine-run inning.^[46] The offense was also inept, being shut out in game 1 and no-hit through the fifth inning in game 2. Mike Minor of Vanderbilt struck out eleven Razorback batters, only to be one-upped by Caleb Cotham's striking out twelve the following day.^[47] The two losses marked the first time Arkansas dropped consecutive games in 2009 as well as the first lost series for the Hogs. The two wins gave Vanderbilt their first series win in Baum Stadium.^[47]

Louisiana-Monroe

The Hogs and Warhawks met for a midweek series on April 14 and 15. The series was split, with the Warhaks taking the first game 3-2.^[48] West Covina, California native Scott Lyons won game two in the tenth inning for the Razorbacks, launching a walk-off home run into the Hogs' bullpen.^[49]

#1 Georgia

Brett Eibner on the mound in 2008.

Arkansas dropped to #5 after dropping three of four games, and traveled to Athens to play the new #1. Dallas Keuchel threw a strong seven innings, but the Hogs lost 3–4 in game 1.^[50] The second game would also be dropped 3-4, this time on a Matt Cerione single in the ninth inning.^[51] Razorback sophomore Brett Eibner tossed a gem in game three, preventing the sweep. The Woodlands, Texas, native Eibner threw a complete game one-hit shutout, striking out twelve Bulldogs. The feat garnered Eibner SEC and National Player of the Week honors.^[52][53]

Oral Roberts

The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles hosted the Hogs for one game at J. L. Johnson Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Hogs prevailed from a 9–6 contest with Zack Cox collecting four hits.^[54] The Razorbacks met Oral Roberts again, this time in Baum Stadium, on May 12.

Tennessee

Arkansas and Tennessee met for an SEC series in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Razorbacks took game 1, 9-3, behind a strong outing by Dallas Keuchel and Jacob House's 4 RBI.^[55] The subsequent game was lost on a failed pickoff attempt by Razorback Stephen Richards, who leads the team in saves. The Plano, Texas, native made an errant throw attempting to pickoff Volunteer P.J. Polk, who was on first base with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.^[56] The Hogs would take the game three slugfest, 15-8, behind Scott Lyons' two home runs.^[57]

#9 Oklahoma

Arkansas met the #9 Oklahoma Sooners once in Baum Stadium. Brett Eibner took over the game, hitting a tying two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth (his second long ball of the day) and drawing a walk-off walk in the tenth.^[58] With the bases loaded and two outs, Eibner was down 0-2 and fouled off six pitches during the twelve-pitch at bat before drawing ball four.^[59]

#4 L. S. U.

The LSU Fighting Tigers held a one-game lead over the Razorbacks entering this series, which is a heated rivalry.^[60] A rain delay caused Game 1 and Game 2 to become a doubleheader on May 2.^[61] Dallas Keuchel was outstanding on the mound in game 1, throwing 8.1 innings, allowing only four runs.^[62] The Razorbacks scored four runs in the fourth inning, but the fans held their breath when catcher Ryan Cisterna was hit in the face by an Anthony Raunado fastball. Raunado would hit Eibner later, causing umpires to issue warnings, and an LSU relief pitcher would also hit Zack Cox in the contest.^[63] Game 2 would have another outstanding pitching performance, this time by LSU's Louis Coleman. He delivered a two-hit shutout, splitting the series' first two games.^[64] The Sunday contest ended when a Razorback's rally fell one run short, 4-3.^[65]

#21 Alabama

Collin Kuhn is a Beaver Dam, Wisconsin native.

Arkansas and Alabama squared off in Tuscaloosa for a critical SEC series. The Hogs would be swept by the Crimson Tide. Dallas Keuchel turned in a great performance, but had no run support and lost a 2–1 decision.^[66] The Hogs lost game two 8-6, with freshman outfielder Collin Kuhn homering twice.^[67] Alabama homered four times in game three, taking a 5–6 decision from Brett Eibner.^[68]

Arkansas clinched a berth in the 2009 SEC baseball tournament when Auburn defeated Kentucky on May 9.^[69]

Oral Roberts

Arkansas snapped a season-long five game losing skid with a victory over Oral Roberts. The offense continued to struggle, but managed to eke three runs across, the third by Scott Lyons in the bottom of the ninth.^[70]

#9 Ole Miss

Arkansas committed four errors in the opener with Ole Miss, resulting in a 7–5 loss.^[71] The Razorbacks also dropped game two due to a six run seventh inning for the Rebels.^[72] The Rebels also won game three on the Razorbacks' senior night.^[73] The Razorbacks entered the SEC Tournament as the #7 seed.