Recently rocked as a Razorback reliever, senior righthander Travis Hill Tuesday night threw a two-hit shutout for six as a starter.

Sophomore reliever Evan Cox of Maumelle finished a hitless three frames for Arkansas' 9-0 nonconference victory over Centenary witnessed by 3, 062 at Baum Stadium.

Two swings by Andy Wilkins'5-RBI bat more than sufficed for Arkansas (15-8 ) to win the first of this two-game series concluding with today's 3 p.m. game here.

Centenary's Gentlemen of the Summit Conference are 13-5.

Losing two of three last SEC weekend at LSU, this weekend Arkansas goes back on the road 2-4 for three more in the SEC at Vanderbit.

" That was a good win for us after kind of a rough weekend, " Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. " The lefty [losing starter Johnny Noland ] had a tremendous season last year and pitched really well against us last year. "

In addition to Wilkins' 2-run homer in the first and 3-run double in the second (" Andy gave us some momentum on that firstpitch changeup, " Van Horn said ) the Razorbacks boasted solo home runs by designated hitter Andrew Darr, 3 for 3, and Jacob House and played errorless ball.

" We got some timely hitting, " Van Horn said. " I was proud of Travis and that's the best Evan Cox has looked since he's been here. "

Wilkins, a lefthanded hitter, pulled a one-out, tworun home run to right in the first off Noland. Noland had hit leadoff batter Ben Tschepikow with a pitch.

Wilkins struck again in the second. He greeted reliever Aaron Bronson with a 3-run double to right-center.

Noland had yielded two walks, and Fayetteville native Tschepikow's two-out, RBI single and a walk to Logan Forsythe loading the bases before Bronson was summoned to be Wllkins' next victim.

Bronson got tagged in the third for consecutive 1-out solo home runs by House and Darr.

Tim Smalling, normally the shortstop but brought off the bench to play third after Logan Forsythe strained a groin muscle, singled home Tschepikow in the seventh.

Tschepikow had singled and been balked to second by reliever Matt Clark.

Considered Arkansas' best player, Forsythe has been dogged by foot, hamstring and groin injuries since before the season began.

" We need him tomorrow against their lefty, " Van Horn said. " But I don't think he'll be in there. "

Wilkins took up the slack even before Forsythe went down Tuesday.

" I was trying to get back in the groove after a rough one last weekend, " Wilkins said. " I just wanted to hit it hard and hit it often. We had a sixday road trip and it was good to be home. "

Especially with Hill and Cox flipping zeros on the opposing scoreboard.

" It was phenomenal to see those two guys pitch tonight, " Wilkins, a first baseman, said.

Hill had his own atonement to seek.

" I have had a couple of rough outings, " Hill said. " It was great to come in and perform. The defense played well behind me and it felt really good and I worked on some things like shortening up my arm action. "

So now is he a starter or a closer ?

" I really don't know what to consider myself, " Hill said. " I don't care whether it's closer, starter or middle relief, I just want to contribute. "