A win is a win. But this early in the season, there’s always room for improvement.

That was Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn’s message Saturday after the Hogs edged Wright State, 5-4, via a 2-run homer by Aaron Murphree in the sixth and a second-straight stellar showing by the bullpen in front of 1, 742 at Baum Stadium.

Despite committing four errors and hitting into a double play with the bases loaded in the fourth, Arkansas (2-0 ) received key contributions from the bullpen to keep the Raiders at bay while it mustered a rally. Starter Shaun Seibert was pulled after allowing 3 earned runs on 3 hits, walking 2 and fanning 1 through 2 1 / 3 innings.

Cliff Springston entered in the third and tossed 3 2 / 3 innings, allowing one unearned run on 1 hit while walking 2 and striking out 6.

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“ I think our bullpen did a good job today, ” Van Horn said. “ Shaun had a good inning and showed some signs. He got that over with and I’m sure he’ll be a lot better next time. I know he was disappointed. I could tell but we overcame it. ”

It was the Hogs’ inability to put together the big inning that irked Van Horn the most.

“ We had a chance to put together a big inning but only scored one run, ” Van Horn said. “ A lot of times you can overcome that and we did. We got some key hits from some younger guys. But both teams gave each other runs and it was kind of an ugly, early-season game. I want to see us to play better a little sooner. ”

For Murphree, his two-out home run on an 0-2 count helped erase the hurt of hitting into a 6-4-3 double play in the fourth with the bases juiced.

“ It’s been a while since I went opposite field, ” Murphree said. “ I had two strikes on me and I had to battle up. I got a pitch and I put a pretty good swing on it and it ended up going out. It was exciting and I’m just glad I was able to come up with a big hit and contribute to a win. ”

Wright State (0-2 ) took a 3-0 edge in the top of the third and chased Seibert with one out.

Seibert issued a leadoff walk to Sam Mote. John Kopilchack smoked a single to right, advancing Mote to third. Mote dashed home on a R. J. Gundolff single past a diving Scott Lyons at short. Brian Adams followed with a sacrifice bunt and three-hole hitter Justin Parker slashed a 2-run double down the thirdbase line, scoring Kopilchack and Gundolff.

Parker’s base knock prompted Van Horn to make a move, plugging in Springston, who fanned Jeff Mercer and subsequently enticed a 6-3 grounder to escape without further damage.

“ I think that gave the offense some energy and they were able to get some runs and get us a victory, ” Springston said. “ It was important to come in and throw strikes. I didn’t want the defense to get lazy and I wanted to get back to the dugout so the offense could hopefully get us back on track. ”

Following three-straight scoreless frames on offense to start, the Hogs found a rhythm at the plate with 5 runs over the subsequent three innings.

The Hogs reached the board in the fourth, sparked by a Wright State error. Casey Coon slapped a grounder to short and Parker’s throw to first missed its mark. Andy Wilkins cracked a single to right, pushing Coon to third. Coon darted home on a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Murphree.

Wright State, though, retrieved the run in the top of the fifth. Gundolff reached on an error at short and scored on a Mercer single to deep short for a 4-1 pad.

The Razorbacks whittled the difference to 4-3 with two runs in their half of the fifth. Chase Leavitt worked a oneout walk to ignite the rally. Logan Forsythe smacked a single to center, advancing Leavitt to third. Forsythe promptly thieved second. Leavitt scored when Adams dropped a Coon fly ball in right and Wilkins laced an RBI single to right.

Following a 1-2-3, Wright State sixth, the Hogs pulled ahead, 5-4, in their half of the frame. Wright State relieved southpaw starter Bryce Deweese in favor of right-hander Greg Robinson. The Hogs jumped on Robinson early.

Brett Eibner bopped a lead-off single past third and subsequent batter Murphree jacked a 2-run homer to the flagpole in right for the goahead score.

Deweese (0-0 ) left after allowing three runs (none earned ) on four hits, struck out four and walked two to log a no decision. Robinson (0-1 ) suffered the loss. Travis Hill notched his first save of the season after twirling 1 2 / 3 scoreless innings, surrendering no hits, walking none and fanning 2.

Arkansas and Wright State will conclude the three-game set today at 12: 05 p. m. Righthanded freshman Kendall Korbal will make his first start as a Razorback today. Righty Michael Meintel will get the nod for the Raiders.