FAYETTEVILLE — Add Dallas Keuchel to the list of contenders for Arkansas’ starting rotation.

1 Keuchel worked 5 / 3 innings of hitless relief as Arkansas overcame a four-run, first-inning deficit Friday to defeat Wright State 9-4 in the season opener at Baum Stadium. A crowd of 681 braved a 4-hour game where the temperature did not rise above 32 degrees. Keuchel’s strong work out of the bullpen enabled Arkansas to catch up after Wright State jumped to a 4-0 lead against freshman James Mahler, who 1 lasted 1 / 3 innings.

Arkansas took a 5-4 lead on a three-run home run by Andy Wilkins in the fourth inning, then broke open the game with four runs in the sixth.

Keuchel, a sophomore lefthander, walked two and tied his career high with six strikeouts. He went five innings three times last year, when he made 24 appearances with nine starts.

“Dallas came in with something to prove, and he proved it,” Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. “He threw strikes with about three or four different pitches and did a tremendous job.”

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Van Horn said Keuchel’s performance likely earned him a start next weekend, when the Razorbacks play in a tournament in College Station, Texas. Keuchel showed flashes as a starter last season, but he pitched mostly out of the bullpen while going 6-3 with a 5. 88 ERA.

“I’d love to be a starter. That’s what I want to do,” Keuchel said. “I started off pretty good last year then dropped off a bit. I worked over the summer with my consistency, and playing in the Cape [Cod League ] with all those good hitters helped tremendously.”

Arkansas (1-0 ) got off to a rough start with five new starters and a freshman, Mahler, who allowed five hits and four runs. Wright State (0-1 ) pounced on Mahler for four hits in the first inning, including a two-run double by Ross Vagedes to put the Raiders ahead 4-0.

Mahler pitched to three batters in the second inning before Keuchel entered the game and retired the final two batters after a walk.

“Mahler was a nervous wreck, but he didn’t deserve to give up four runs,” Van Horn said. “You take away that first inning, it’s a good game, but on a Friday night in conference play you don’t recover from that. “ I told them we had 27 outs to go and don’t panic. We scored runs with two outs, and that’s a sign of a good team.” Aaron Murphree, Ben Tschepikow and Logan Forsythe had two hits each for Arkansas, while R. J. Gundolff and Ross Vagedes had two hits for Wright State. Keuchel dominated the Raiders before tiring and being replaced

1 by Justin Wells, who pitched 2 / 3 scoreless innings. Wells struck out cleanup hitter Jeff Mercer for the third out after Keuchel allowed a hit and walked a batter. Arkansas began its comeback with two runs in the second inning. Chase Leavitt delivered a two-run triple following a double by Murphree and a walk to Scott Lyons.

Wilkins put Arkansas ahead 5-4 in the fourth inning on a threerun home run with two outs. Tschepikow and Forsythe hit singles before Wilkins lined the first pitch from Michael Woytek over the fence in right field.

Arkansas increased its lead to 9-4 with four runs in the sixth. Murphree had a two-run single, and Wright State helped the Razorbacks with three walks and a hit batsman.

Junior Shaun Seibert will start for Arkansas against sophomore Bryce DeWeese in today’s game at 1: 05 p. m. Arkansas is hoping for a comeback from Seibert, who missed most of last season with an injured elbow.