FAYETTEVILLE — Trey Killian finally got run support Friday night at Baum Stadium.
Arkansas scored four first-inning runs and beat No. 18 Vanderbilt 6-2 in the opening game of the series.
Before Friday's game, the most runs the Razorbacks scored in a game started by Killian was three. The right-hander picked up his second win of the season by allowing two unearned runs in 6 2/3 innings of work.
The performance dropped Killian's season ERA from 3.00 to 2.35.
Arkansas wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. With the bases loaded with one out in the first inning, Blake Baxendale grounded into a potentially inning-ending double play, but Brian Anderson's slide broke it up and allowed a run to score.
Eric Fisher followed with a three-run home run on the next pitch to give Arkansas a 4-0 lead. It is the fourth-straight SEC game in which Fisher has hit a home run.
Vanderbilt responded with a pair of two-out runs in the third inning thanks in part to two errors by the Razorbacks.
An RBI-single by Baxendale and sacrifice fly by Fisher in the third and fifth innings, respectively, gave Arkansas some insurance.
The Commodores threatened in the seventh inning, loading the bases with two outs and forcing Killian out of the game. However, Zach Jackson came into the game and struck out Jason Delay to end the inning.
Jackson walked a batter in the eighth inning, but that was Vanderbilt's last base runner of the game as Michael Gunn pitched a perfect ninth inning.
Andrew Benintendi continued his hot streak at the plate Friday, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Over the last four games, he is batting .571 and he has at least two hits, one run scored and one stolen base in each game.
Arkansas and Vanderbilt will play the second game of the series Saturday at Baum Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
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