Eastern Illinois and Arkansas opened up their 2019 season with a doubleheader on Saturday due to inclement weather postponing Friday's series opener. Arkansas swept the doubleheader, picking up a pair of victories by scores of 15-7 and 12-3. EIU and Arkansas will complete their three-game series on Sunday with first pitch set for 1 p.m.

Eastern Illinois dropped to 0-2 to begin the year, while Arkansas improved to 2-0 to open the season.

Game One: Arkansas 15, Eastern Illinois 7
Arkansas was able to break out in the fourth inning with eight runs to give themselves a commanding lead over the Panthers in game one. The Panthers held #12 Arkansas to one run heading into the fourth inning.

Trevor Ezell gave the Razorbacks the first run of the game in the bottom of the third when he hit a solo home run to right field.

The Razorbacks got to Tyler Jones in the fourth inning hitting two homeruns. C Franklin connected on a three-run homer and Heston Kjerstad drove a two-run homer to right field. Arkansas would drive back-to-back RBI doubles to finish with eight runs in the inning.

The Panthers were able to get on the board in the fifth inning with three runs. Jimmy Govern led of the top of the fifth with a single to right field. Jimmy Huber followed up with a single of his own through the left side.  Ryan Knernschield drove in the first run for the Panthers with a single up the middle to score Govern.  Wyell Woods followed up with an RBI double to right center to keep the rally alive. Dane Toppel would drive in the third run of the inning with a bunt.

Arkansas would respond with four runs on three hits in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Christian Pena was able to drive in a run for the Panthers in the top of the sixth with a single to right field. Jack Kenley would answer back for Arkansas with a solo home run to right field. Pena would connect on a three-run home run in the top of the eighth to make the score 15-7.

Jones took the loss on the mound for the Panthers in game one. Jones went 3.2 innings with nine earned runs and nine hits. Isaiah Campbell earned the win for the Razorbacks, pitching 5.0 innings with five strikeouts.

Pena went 2-for-4 with four RBIs and a home run. Hunter Morris went 2-for-5 with a double.

Game Two: Arkansas, Eastern Illinois
The Razorbacks gave themselves a commanding lead early on in the game. Michael YaSenka made his first start as a Panther in game-two of the doubleheader. YaSenka gave the Panthers their first strikeouts of the season, as he struck out the side in the bottom of the first inning.

Arkansas was able to break the scoreless streak in the second inning when Jordan McFarland hit an RBI single through the left side. Zack Plunkett gave the Razorbacks there second run of the inning with an RBI single.

The Razorbacks would tack on two more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Trevor Ezell and Dominic Fletcher would each hit a sacrifice fly to give Arkansas a 4-0 lead entering the fourth inning.

The Panthers were able to cut the lead down to two runs in the fifth inning. Morris drew a walk with the bases loaded to bring in the Panthers first run of the game. Govern drove in the second run of the inning for the Panthers with an RBI single to the pitcher.

The Panthers were able to tack on another run in the top of the eighth when Trey Sweeney would reach on a fielding error, scoring govern.
 
In the bottom of the eighth inning the Razorbacks would extend their lead by six runs. To lead the Panthers 12-3.
 
YaSenka took the loss on the mound for the Panthers in game two. YaSenka finished with five strikeouts in five innings.