FAYETTEVILLE — The limp flags in right field suggested anything but a day for home run balls to sail out of Baum Stadium.

But Arkansas pounded South Dakota State pitchers for eight home runs in a doubleheader sweep Wednesday.

With a tough stretch of games looming, especially next week, the Razorbacks enjoyed a stress-free day and blew out the Jackrabbits 13-1 and 20-4 before a crowd of 1, 841.

Arkansas (8-1 ) collected 32 total hits and made the Jackrabbits (1-5 ) regret five errors in the second game that led to nine unearned runs. But it was the power surge — particularly by torrid-hitting senior Aaron Murphree — that stood out for the Razorbacks.

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It’s become a trend for the Razorbacks, who hit two home runs in the first four games but have hit 15 in their the past five games.

“A lot of people thought we wouldn’t have power,” said Murphree, who hit three home runs Wednesday. “We’ve got a lot of guys who can hit the ball on the line and make solid contact, and they turned them into home runs tonight.

“ The ball was carrying.”

Arkansas hit four home runs in each game. Besides Murphree’s, Brett Eibner added two home runs while Jacob House, Tim Smalling and Andy Wilkins had one each. Wilkins’ solo shot in the third inning of Game 2 even cleared the 39-foot scoreboard in right field.

“There was definitely some wind, but just about every ball that went out would have went out anyway,” Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. “The air is thin. I told the guys it felt like we were playing in Colorado today.”

Before Wednesday, the Razorbacks last hit back-to-back home runs Feb. 11, 2007, a span of 66 games. They did it in both games Wednesday, with House and Murphree doing it first and then Eibner and Wilkins.

Murphree went 6 for 9 overall Wednesday with 7 RBI and 5 runs scored. After getting just 37 at-bats with one RBI all of last season, Murphree is batting. 457 (16 for 35 ) with an SEC-leading 7 home runs and 20 RBI in 35 at-bats through 9 games. His slugging percentage stands at 1. 171.

“I’m sure he’s seeing the ball as big as a beach ball,” said Eibner, who also turned in a pretty good day.

Eibner picked up 5 hits and 6 RBI in Game 2 after going 2 for 5 with 2 RBI in the opener. The freshman also pitched the Razorbacks to victory in the second game, allowing 2 home runs and 3 hits overall in 5 innings.

“We’re trying to hit line drives, to be honest. We really are,” Arkansas hitting coach Todd Butler said of an offense that raised its season batting average from. 284 to. 312. “Keeping the ball on a line and being tougher outs with two strikes. It’s going pretty good so far, but there are more tests to come.”

After hosting Siena this weekend, the Razorbacks play at fourthranked Arizona State on Tuesday and Wednesday and open SEC play against Georgia the following Friday.

Wednesday’s doubleheader did little to prepare the Razorbacks for the meat of their schedule. But encouraging was a solid Game 1 start by freshman pitcher James Mahler (1-0 ) and a slump-snapping effort by Smalling.

Entering the day hitting. 045 (1 for 22 ), Smalling had three hits on the day, including a grand slam in the first game.

“You just kind of felt he was going to pop one,” Van Horn said.