FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas may be ready to end its trend of its starters not getting out of the second or third inning, but giving multiple pitchers opportunities to show what they can do can be valuable this early in the season.

The Razorbacks bullpen turned in another effective performance Saturday, bailing out starter Shaun Seibert in Arkansas ’ 5-4 victory at Baum Stadium.

One day after freshman James Mahler’s start lasted just three hitters into the second inning, Seibert was pulled in the third with one out, three runs in and a Wright State runner at second. But Arkansas relievers Cliff Springston, Mike Bolsinger and Travis Hill limited the Raiders to one unearned run in the final 2 6 / 3 innings as the Razorbacks improved to 2-0.

So far Arkansas’ bullpen ERA is 0. 00 with 19 strikeouts and 4 hits allowed, and Wright State is hitting just. 083 against Razorback relievers.

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“Our bullpen’s going to get used,” said Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn, who lost his entire weekend starting rotation from 2007. “We play [today ], we’ve got a day off Monday and play Tuesday and Wednesday and travel next weekend. We do that for the next how many weeks ?

“ These guys are going to have to work that stuff out on their own in games and not practice.” The way Dallas Keuchel threw 1 Friday (5 / 3 hitless and scoreless innings ) and Springston shut

2 down the Raiders over 3 / 3 innings Saturday, they could be starting games soon.

Springston stranded Seibert’s runner at second in the third inning with a strikeout and a ground ball to short. He overcame his own two errant pickoff throws that sent Wright State runners at third in the fourth and fifth. Neither scored. The junior left-hander who transferred from Baylor struck out six.

“Getting guys out with runners on base is huge,” said Springston, who like Keuchel on Friday kept the Razorbacks close until they went ahead. “You come into the game able to shut them down, it gives the offense a lot of extra energy, and they were able to put runs on the board for us and win the game.”

Bolsinger looks like another newcomer capable of eating up innings. The junior right-hander was sharp in the seventh, picking off Brian Adams at first. When he put two runners on in the eighth, senior veteran Travis Hill picked up the next two outs and finished off the save in the ninth.

“The first time going out there and pitching, you kind of get your jitters out,” Bolsinger said. “I could have done a lot better, and next time you’ll be more prepared.”

The Razorbacks will audition another freshman starter today when Kendall Korbal gets the call. If he falters, freshman Brett Eibner and sophomore returnees Stephen Richards and Chad Pierce are candidates to follow up two solid relief stints.

“That’s what you do at this time of year. A lot of guys get their opportunities,” Arkansas pitching coach Dave Jorn said. “Guys that you think you’re going to count on don’t do very well, and guys you’re unsure of seize the opportunity.”