OMAHA, Neb. -- With the season on the line, University of Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn is handing the baseball to freshman pitcher Connor Noland at the College World Series.
Noland, a right-hander from Greenwood, will start for the Razorbacks (46-19) in an elimination game against Texas Tech (44-19) at 1 p.m. today at TD Ameritrade Park.
"That gives me a lot of confidence to get out there and just do what I do," Noland said Van Horn's decision. "I've dreamed about pitching in Omaha, and now I get to start."
Noland (3-5, 4.00 ERA) has pitched 741/3 innings in 19 appearances, including 18 starts.