TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – With the help of three home runs and another strong performance on the mound from redshirt junior Isaiah Campbell, the eighth-ranked Arkansas baseball team handily defeated Alabama, 12-3, Friday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium to stay perfect in league play.
For the third-straight game, Arkansas (19-3, 4-0 SEC) scored four or more runs in the second inning when it plated six to jump out to a 7-0 lead before the completion of two innings. All six runs were scored with two outs as Alabama starting pitcher Sam Finnerty was put in a hole early.
Even before the big inning, the offense was kickstarted by sophomore Heston Kjerstad, who hit his fourth home run of the year in the first inning and his second in three games.
Kjerstad drove in four more runs on a bases-loaded single in the second inning, tying his career-high for RBIs after just two at-bats. The Amarillo, Texas native finished the game 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Its his fifth three-hit game of the season and eighth multi-hit game.
After being handed a large cushion before the bottom of the second, Campbell went on to work six more innings, giving him seven before letting the bullpen take over. It was the fourth-straight quality start for Campbell as he scattered five hits without giving up a run, walking one with seven strikeouts.
Campbell moves to 5-0 with the victory, matching his win total from last season and has only walked two or less batters in all six of his starts.
Arkansas and Alabama will be back on the field tomorrow at Sewell-Thomas Stadium for game two of the series. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. and will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
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