FAYETTEVILLE - This is not the season Casey Coon envisioned.

Coon, a junior, has been bothered throughout his career by injuries, but this season has been even rougher for the Razorbacks outfielder. He started the season mired in a slump, then missed most of April with a severely sprained left ankle.

Still, Coon wants to make the final four weeks of the regular season count, and he took a step toward that goal Wednesday afternoon in the Razorbacks' 7-1 victory over Northern Colorado before 817 at Baum Stadium.

Coon returned to the starting lineup and went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI and 1 run scored as the Razorbacks (24-17 ) completed a two-game sweep of the Bears (14-26 ).

"When he's going offensively, he can really help us," Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. "I'm just glad to see him back there."

Coon has been slowed by an ankle injury he sustained April 1 while diving back into second base at Missouri State. The injury healed slowly and had kept Coon out of the lineup until Sunday, when he pinch hit against Tennessee.

"I had a level three sprain, both sides of [the ankle ]," Coon said. "It was really frustrating, but there's nothing you can do."

He served as Arkansas' designated hitter Tuesday night, recording his first hit since March 26 against Centenary, then got better news Wednesday when the ankle was deemed healthy enough that Coon could start in left field. He delivered again, coming through with a two-run single in the third inning.

That gives Coon 13 RBI for the season, a far cry from last year when he started 48 of the final 50 games and batted. 312 with 9 home runs and 71 RBI. But at least he's back on the field.

Dating to his days at the College of Southern Nevada, Coon has missed more than his share of time because of injuries. The list includes a broken nose, being hospitalized for appendicitis and gallstones and a shoulder injury that required surgery.

His teammates were glad to see him back in the lineup Wednesday.

"He's had a positive attitude, and hopefully we'll get him rolling, keep him in the lineup and get some RBI for us," said second baseman Ben Tschepikow, who has battled his own share of injuries. "When you're hurt you just learn you can't take the game for granted, and then when you're playing, play every game like it's your last.

"[Coon's ] a tough guy. He's going to be in the lineup, and he's going to play through it."

Coon took the three weeks he had to spend on the bench in stride.

"I'm darn excited to be back in the lineup," he said. "It was a little unexpected to be out in the field. I thought I'd be DH a few more games, but Coach threw me back in the mix. I was kind of happy he did."

Coon's two-run single in a three-run third was the Razorbacks' best sequence of the day.

After Northern Colorado starter Jason Banks quickly retired the first two Razorbacks, the top of the order was two-out tough. Chase Leavitt singled, and the next three batters all walked to score a run.

Coon was aggressive, jumping on Banks' first pitch and lining a two-run base hit back up the middle to make it 3-0.

"He had a hard time finding the strike zone, so I knew he was going to give me a fastball," Coon said. "I wanted to get after it. I'm not the type of player to sit back. I don't have a whole lot of walks. I'm either all or nothing."

Overall, the Razorbacks' offense wasn't overpowering with 10 hits, but five consecutive batters reached base in the fifth. Four of them scored to complete their scoring.