Kjerstad provides pop as Hogs sweep Eastern Illinois, 12-3

Arkansas right fielder Heston Kjerstad smiles Friday, Feb. 14, 2020, as he celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a home run during the fifth inning against Eastern Illinois at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville.

Arkansas junior right fielder Heston Kjerstad is definitely living up to his preseason All-American billing.

Kjerstad homered twice Sunday -- for the second time in three days -- as the No. 5 Razorbacks pounded Eastern Illinois 12-3 before 5,694 fans at Baum-Walker Stadium to sweep a three-game set from the Panthers.

Kjerstad, who was 3-of-5 with 6 RBIs on Sunday, has 4 homers and 10 RBIs already this season, and is hitting an impressive .583 for the Razorbacks (3-0).

Razorback freshman starter Blake Adams, one of four Razorback pitchers on Sunday, made his college debut and allowed two runs on six hits while walking a pair and throwing 53 pitches, 33 for strikes.

Arkansas jumped to a 2-0 lead in the opening inning with Brayden Webb and Matt Goodheart both singling and coming around to score.

Kjerstad launched his third homer in a five-run second inning that knocked out Eastern Illinois starter Foster Anshultz.

He added his fourth blast leading off a sixth inning and added a two-run double in the seventh before leaving to an ovation from the crowd when Dave Van Horn lifted him for a pinch runner.

Arkansas will be back in action on Thursday at 3 p.m. against Gonzaga in the first of a four-game series.