FAYETTEVILLE — Rhode Island cranked five line drive hits off of Arkansas pitcher Josh Aleberius in the first two innings to salvage the finale, 3-0, in college baseball Sunday at Baum Stadium.
Jordan Powell hit a two-run single in the first as Rhode Island (6-8) opened the game with three straight hits. Justin Jewell added a solo homer in the second inning. It was Jewell's first hit of the season in 13 at bats.
Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn thought Alberius got a little rattled after plate umpire Bill McGuire ruled the first pitch of the game illegal.
"Probably no one even picked up on that, but he called it a ball, said he wasn't squared up to the plate," Van Horn said. "It's a point of emphasis this year. Josh wasn't sure what happened and I think it bothered him. The next few, Josh threw up right down the middle and they hit them."
Rhode Island righthanded starter Matt Murphy (2-1) was solid through seven innings, allowing just three hits. The Hogs lifted three long flies to near the warning track, but didn't have any big threats. Tyler Barrs recorded all five batters he faced for the save.
Van Horn said Murphy wasn't doing anything but putting a 90 mph fast ball on the outer corner.
"That was the story of the game," Van Horn said. "He had command of the fast ball away. He threw really well to our lefthanders.
"We hit two or three balls really well, long outs. You can say we squared those up, but really we just were hitting a lot of fly balls. I remember only two or three ground balls. We just couldn't get on top of any pitches.
"Credit to their pitcher, he was throwing strikes. We knew he was a strike thrower. After two or three innings, he figured out he didn't have to throw any breaking balls."
The Hogs had only three hits, two by third baseman Hunter Wilson. Wilson had six hits in seven at bats in the three-game series.
In the eighth, reliever Blaise Whitmore exited after allowing a pair of one-out walks to Chad Spanberger and Luke Bonfield. Barss, who gave up a walk-off hit Friday night, got out of that jam by retiring Grant Koch on a pop-up to shortstop. Dominic Fletcher was retired on a foul-ball pop caught by catcher Martin Figueroa near the screen.
"We were trying to hit three-run homers," Van Horn said. "We were pulling off the ball. Our coaches work (in batting practice) on drills to go the other way. That's what they are coached to do. Sometimes they try to do too much. We talk and talk about it. Now they have to do it."
Kevin Kopps pitched three shutout innings in relief, but left after a one-out walk in the ninth. Cannon Chadwick got out of trouble with two strike outs and a pick-off. Alberius has taken all three Arkansas losses.
Van Horn liked what he saw from Kopps and Chadwick. He said Kopps walked three because of the dive and dip of a new pitch, a cutting fast ball.
"Kopps had some nasty stuff," Van Horn said. "The fast ball was at 90-91 and the cutter was at 87 with real downward movement. That's something new and it's filthy."
The Hogs (12-4) plays host to Alcorn State with 3 p.m. Games on Tuesday and Wednesday. Mississippi State comes to Fayetteville for the start of SEC play on Friday.
Van Horn said he's not sure of the end of the weekend rotation. Alberius has started the last two Sunday games.
"I think it may be (to be announced) all season on Sunday," Van Horn said. "That's what happens when you have arm injuries, lose pitchers like Keaton McKinney and Isaiah Campbell."
Dominic Taccolini will start for the Hogs on Tuesday against Alcorn State.
"We might use him for five, seven or nine, or we might get him out after two and bring him back (on Sunday)," Van Horn said. "I'm just not sure."
Arkansas second baseman Carson Shaddy left the game with what is believed to be a minor ankle sprain to end the fourth inning. Shaddy was hurt sliding into second base. Shaddy made two diving stops on ground outs earlier in the game, plus turned a double play at second.
"We don't think it's anything (serious)," Van Horn said. "It might be just a turned ankle. We'll get it X-rayed, but our trainer didn't think there was anything broken.
"He was able to kind of walk it off," Van Horn said. "But he was in some real pain at first. Probably, he won't play Tuesday or Wednesday. He's day-to-day."
Attendance was 1,352 on a cold sunny afternoon. Arkansas won the first two games of the series on Friday. Officials decided Saturday's weather would not allow for a game. Snow was cleared off the field Sunday morning.