GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Arkansas got off to another good start against Florida when right fielder Sean Jones scored on a single by center fielder Brett Eibner in the first inning.

The problem was, the early run was all the offense the Razorbacks could muster against the Gators.

Pitcher Patrick Keating frustrated the Razorbacks during his seven-inning stint, helping Florida even the weekend series with a 6-1 win in front of 3,525 at McKethan Stadium on Saturday. Keating (6-0) allowed one run on five hits, struck out five and handcuffed an offense that failed to come up with timely hits.

"Offensively, we just did not do it," Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said.

The first inning became the only highlight at the plate for the Razorbacks (18-15, 4-9 in SEC), who were trying to clinch their first Southeastern Conference series victory of the season.

Logan Forsythe led off the game with a single and was thrown out on Jones' fielder's choice. But Jones scored when Eibner - who went 0-for-5 in the series opener - slapped a single into the outfield.

"We were ready to go this morning, get that first run," Eibner said. "We felt like we set the tone.

"I don't know if we got complacent or what, but we didn't have the same fire we did (Friday) night."

Arkansas couldn't get in sync even though its leadoff batter reached base in two of the next four innings.

Keating - who improved to 5-0 with a 2.32 earned run average in SEC starts - managed to steer clear of danger each time.

The biggest threat came with Florida clinging to a 3-1 lead in the seventh, when Arkansas put two runners on base with two outs. Keating struck out Jones - who went 0-for-4 - to wipe out the threat. It was one of four Arkansas strikeouts to end innings.

"A lot of it has to do with our hitters," Van Horn said of Keating's performance. "We've got some guys that obviously need to do a better job of hitting with two strikes. The key to that is maybe not get to two strikes. Hit it before you get to two strikes."

The offensive struggles overshadowed a gutsy effort on the mound by junior Cliff Springston (4-2).

The lefthander wasn't as flawless as teammate Dallas Keuchel, who kept Florida (24-11, 9-5) at bay Friday night. But he was solid, limiting the Gators to one run in each of the first three innings.

Springston's effort kept the game close until Florida, which held an after-hours session in the batting cages after Friday's loss, finally broke it open with three runs in the eighth.

First baseman Clayton Pisani delivered the big hit off Arkansas reliever Evan Cox, who replaced Springston with two outs. Pisani blasted a two-run home run - Florida's third extra-base hit - to make it 6-1.

"We haven't hit a ball that hard in awhile," Florida coach Kevin O'Sullivan said. "Hopefully that's a good confidence boost for Clayton and our team. That home run was a big relief for everybody."

Pisani went 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs for the Gators, while teammate Josh Adams was 3-for-4 with an RBI. Eibner and Ryan Cisterna had two hits apiece for Arkansas, which has scored just three runs in two games.

But Van Horn is hoping the Razorbacks will break out in the third game of the series today at noon.

Arkansas, which is trying to win its first SEC series, will send righthander Justin Wells (2-0) to the mound. Florida will counter with Tommy Toledo (4-2).

"(Springston) gave us a chance to win," Van Horn said Saturday night. "We just didn't back it up."