Arkansas baseball salvaged a series win after dropping the season opener on Friday, beating Illinois State, 4-2, Sunday afternoon in Fayetteville.
Chris Lanzilli and Brady Slavens hit back-to-back RBI singles in the fifth to break a 1-all tie while Jaxon Wiggins and Kole Ramage worked around trouble over nine to limit Illinois State.
The Redbirds pulled within a run in the eighth when Ryan Cermak hit a solo home run off Ramage to start the inning. But Arkansas’ right-hander retired the next three to keep Illinois State at bay.
Arkansas built the lead back to two in the bottom of the inning when Jalen Battles doubled home Zack Gregory, who walked as the inning’s first batter.
Wiggins allowed seven baserunners and a run in his five innings of work, striking out five, as well. He worked himself into trouble in the second when he allowed back-to-back singles at the beginning of the inning and a wild pitch gave Illinois State runners at second and third. A fielder’s choice allowed the Redbirds to score first, but Wiggins induced a flyout and groundout to get out of it.
Ramage worked four innings in relief, striking out six and giving up two hits, including the solo homer.
Slavens went 3 for 3 with an RBI and a walk. Battles, Robert Moore and Peyton Stovall each had two hits with Moore crossing the plate twice and Stovall once.
Arkansas will travel to Round Rock, Texas, on the weekend for three games as part of the Karbach Round Rock Classic. The Diamond Hogs play Indiana on Friday, Stanford on Saturday and Louisiana on Sunday.