FAYETTEVILLE -- Connor Noland fired a strikeout-filled gem in his debut in the staff ace role, and Heston Kjerstad and Christian Franklin combined for three home runs as No. 5 Arkansas took care of business on opening day Friday.
Noland struck out a career-high 11 batters to lead the Razorbacks to a 5-1 victory over Eastern Illinois before a crowd of 5,083 on a frigid afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium. The University of Arkansas won its 26th consecutive opening day game, and its 18th in a row for Coach Dave Van Horn.
"I had all three pitches: fastball, curveball and slider," Noland said.