Baxendale ranked 25th by College Baseball Daily

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas junior pitcher DJ Baxendale has been ranked as the 25th-best player in college baseball, as announced on Tuesday by CollegeBaseballDaily.com.

Baxendale is the third Razorback to be ranked in College Baseball Daily’s countdown of the top 100 players in college baseball. Sophomore pitcher Ryne Stanek was ranked 57th, while sophomore infielder Dominic Ficociello came in at No. 75.

A 2012 preseason All-American by Collegiate Baseball and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, Baxendale finished his sophomore season with a 10-2 record, three saves and a 1.58 ERA in 19 appearances, including 12 starts. Baxendale finished fourth in the SEC and 10th nationally in ERA. A native of Little Rock, Ark., Baxendale became the first Razorback pitcher to win 10 games in a season since Nick Schmidt in 2007. Baxendale earned second-team All-SEC honors in 2011 and was also named a semifinalist for USA Baseball’s Golden Spikes Award.

Entering his junior season, Baxendale has a 10-4 career record with 10 saves and a 2.41 ERA in 48 appearances, including 15 starts. Baxendale’s career ERA currently ranks him fifth in school history, while his 10 saves is tied for seventh in school annals. Baxendale has thrown 145.2 innings, striking out 121 and holding opposing hitters to a .248 batting average.

The Razorbacks open the 2012 season on Friday, Feb. 17, when they host Villanova at Baum Stadium. First pitch is set for 3:05 p.m