Diamond Hogs Win Season Opener 9-1

There was no letdown from the No. 1 baseball team in the country on opening day. Arkansas beat Western Illinois 9-1 at Baum Stadium on Friday afternoon behind early runs and stellar pitching.

Western Illinois only recorded three total hits.

Preseason All-American Ryne Stanek got the win on the mound pitching four innings, giving up two hits and one run.

Arkansas went up 2-0 in the first inning off an Eric Fisher single that scored Alma’s Matt Vinson and Jacob Morris.

Fisher struck again in the third inning, hitting a solo home run. That sparked a five-run third inning where Arkansas sent 10 batters to the plate. Vinson, Jacob Mahan, Brett McAfee and Van Buren’s Tyler Spoon also recorded RBIs in the inning.

Fisher was a pleasant surprise on opening day after redshirting as a sophomore last year because of the depth head coach Dave Van Horn had in his infield.

“It’s amazing how fast the redshirt year flew by,” said Fisher. “Being able to go out there and produce when there was guys in scoring position, it was a good start.”

The bullpen took care of the rest for the Diamond Hogs. Freshman Trey Killian retired all nine batter he faced in three innings, and Tyler Wright cleaned things up in the ninth.

These teams will meet again Saturday afternoon for a 12:05 start.