Diamond Hogs knock out Leathernecks early 11-1

Nate Allen Sports

FAYETTEVILLE – On their pre-game 10-run rule agreement, the Arkansas Razorbacks administered an 11-1 technical knockout of the Western Illinois University Leathernecks in Wednesday’s game at Baum-Walker Stadium.
Matt Goodheart’s RBI single after Trey Harris’ RBI single in the 2-run eighth stopped the game on Arkansas’ 10-run advantage.
Coach Dave Van Horn’s Razorbacks, 14-2, sweep the 2-game nonconference series over their 4-9 Summit League opponent and ready now to open the SEC campaign hosting the Missouri Tigers this weekend at Baum-Walker Stadium.
Arkansas vs. Mizzou game times are 6:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
Against Western Illinois Wednesday the Razorbacks scored a run in the second, third and fourth innings, four in the fifth and two each in the seventh and eighth.
Cleanup hitting center fielder Dominic Fletcher, 2 for 2 with a double, knocked in three runs. Casey Martin, his home run streak ended at three in three games, still hit hard Wednesday going 2 for 4 with a double and a RBI.
Bryant native graduate transfer first baseman Trevor Ezell also went 2 for 4 with a double and a RBI Wednesday while second baseman Jack Kenley went 2 for 4.
Jacob Nesbit and Curtis Washington each knocked in an Arkansas run.
With Van Horn announcing he would use a parade of pitchers getting some younger arms and sparing his regular pitchers for the SEC weekend, Marshall Denton, 1-0, logged the victory for his three innings shutout start.
Freshman lefty Evan Taylor pitched two shutout innings following Denton.
WIU scored its run in the sixth off freshman Elijah Trest.
Relievers Zebulon Vermillion and Liam Henry wrapped it.
Collectively the five Razorbacks pitchers limited WIU to four hits while striking out 10 against one walk.
The Leathernecks Tuesday mustered but one hit in five innings against winning Arkansas starter Patrick Wicklander and none against relievers Kole Ramage, Jacob Kostyshock, Kevin Kopps and Matt Cronin throwing one inning each.
Heston Kjerstad, 4 for 4 with a 2-run home run, triple and two singles, paced Arkansas’ Tuesday night attack.