College World Series 2009: The Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team has faced LSU four times in 2009, three in SEC play and once in postseason, and lost three of the four. For Arkansas to advance to the championship round of the College World Series, it must beat the heavily favored Tigers twice. Friday at 2 p.m. ET, the Hogs and Tigers will play at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb. If Arkansas loses they are eliminated and LSU advances. If LSU loses the schools play again on Saturday with the winner advancing.

Oddsmakers at online sportsbook BetUS.com list LSU as -300 money-line odds favorite over Arkansas. Razorbacks backers are getting +220 odds on the BetUS.com money-line.

LSU coach Paul Mainieri has tabbed hard-throwing sophomore Anthony Ranaudo as starter for the Tigers versus Arkansas. So far on the year, the big right-hander has a 10-3 record with a 3.03 ERA. Ranaudo struggled in his first College World Series start Saturday versus Virginia, allowing two runs on five hits in 3.1 innings with four walks and three strikeouts.

Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn will counter with left-hander Stephen Richards (6-1, 1.80 ERA), who has served as the Razorbacks' closer this season. Arkansas is forced to go with Richards as none of its three regular starters have not had sufficient rest between starts.

The Tigers enter Friday’s game hitting .317 as a team with 99 homers and 113 stolen bases. Sophomore second baseman DJ LeMahieu, the second-round selection this week by the Chicago Cubs in the MLB Draft, is batting .350 on the year with 12 doubles, three triples, four homers and 40 RBI.

The Razorbacks are led by first baseman Andy Wilkins, who is hitting .325 with 18 doubles, 19 homers and 58 RBI. Shortstop Ben Tschepikow is batting .317 with 12 doubles, four triples, nine homers and 47 RBI, and DH Scott Lyons is hitting .300 with 11 doubles, one triple, eigth homers and 46 RBI.