FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas used a pair of six-run innings and strong pitching to cruise to a series-opening victory over Eastern Illinois on Friday.
The sixth-ranked Razorbacks defeated the Panthers 13-2 in seven innings at Baum-Walker Stadium to record their third consecutive win. The teams are scheduled to play again Saturday at noon.
Kendall Diggs’ 399-foot home run to left-center field triggered the run rule of 10 after seven innings. It was the second run-rule victory for Arkansas (4-1), which also defeated No. 8 Oklahoma State 18-1 in seven innings last Sunday at the College Baseball Showdown.
More from WholeHogSports: Notes from Arkansas' 13-2 victory
Left-hander Hagen Smith did not allow a run in a 4 2/3-inning start for Arkansas. Smith allowed 3 hits, walked 3 and struck out 6 in his 97-pitch outing that included 56 strikes. He earned the win due to pitch count.
The Razorbacks scored six runs in the third inning against EIU starting right-hander Blake Malatestinic to take a 6-0 lead. Hudson Polk was hit by a pitch before John Bolton and Tavian Josenberger reached on back-to-back bunt singles in the first three pitches of the inning.
Diggs walked with the bases loaded and Jared Wegner, Brady Slavens and Peyton Holt all had RBI hits in the inning. Wegner scored from third base when Ben McLaughlin hit into a double play.
Arkansas sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning and recorded 5 hits and 2 walks. McLaughlin’s double play accounted for the first outs and came in the eighth at-bat.
Holt’s two-out RBI single scored Slavens to cap the six-run inning. Holt, who started in place of injured second baseman Peyton Stovall (thumb), added a second two-out RBI hit in the fifth when he plated Slavens to put the Razorbacks ahead 7-0.
VIDEO: Dave Van Horn, players, recap EIU Game 1
EIU (3-1) scored twice against Arkansas right-handed reliever Austin Ledbetter in the sixth inning. The first three batters reached against Ledbetter with a hit by pitch, double and RBI single by Chris Worcester. Lucas Diluca added a sacrifice fly to plate the second run.
Arkansas scored six more runs in the bottom of the seventh. The first three runs scored on an error or wild pitch, then Diggs hit the Razorbacks’ first homer in two games at home.
Cody Adcock escaped a bases-loaded jam with a strikeout of three-hole hitter Nicholas Rucker in the fifth inning to earn the win. It was Adcock's only out.
Gage Wood threw a scoreless seventh.
Friday's victory was Dave Van Horn's 800th in 21 seasons at Arkansas.