Box Score LITTLE ROCK, Ark. ? The UALR Trojan baseball team (3-10, 0-1) found their offense today as they routed the UTM Skyhawks (1-10) 19-5. The Trojans chased six Skyhawk pitchers from the game as they pounded out 22 hits as Trojan pitcher Adam Champion evened his record to 1-1 on the season. For the second time this season, the Trojans hit three home runs in a game.
Things started out a little shaky for Champion and the Trojans as he walked the first two batters of the game. After a passed ball that moved up the runners, Miles Hartsfield grounded out to first base to score Kyle Dudley from third, giving the Skyhawks their only lead of the game. Champion settled and got Drew Mason to fly out to end the inning.
The Trojans didn't waste any time scoring as the first three hitters got base hits. Kody Kroll continued his amazing series against UTM as he doubled to left center field to start the game. A single up the middle by Daniel Guffey scored Kroll to tie the game. Matt Apfel singled to right center to score Guffey from second, giving the Trojans a lead they would not relinquish.
After two quick outs, Greg McCarthy hit his second home run of the season, giving the Trojans a 4-1 lead after one inning of play.
Champion settled down, going three innings in the game. He gave up two earned runs, but limited his walks to two and struck out one.
After the Skyhawks scored in the top of the third to put the Skyhawks down 5-2, the Trojans put the game away in the bottom of the third. The Trojans batted around in the inning and scored seven runs, all with two outs, to take a 12-2 lead.
After Jared Powell lined out to start the inning, McCarthy picked up where his first at-bat left off and stroked a double to left field. After Zach Rowles lined out to center field, things got interesting for the home team. A wild pitch by Skyhawk Wes Patterson allowed McCarthy to advance to third. Patterson then walked the next three Trojan hitters.
Shawn McElyea entered the game to try and stop the bleeding but walked the first batter he saw, Guffey. Apfel added two more RBIs to his season total on a single to right field. Robert Taylor then singled through the left side of the infield to score Guffey.
That was all UALR needed as the bullpen combined for six innings of work, collecting six strikeouts.
Kroll went 3-for-4 in the game with a pair of walks and a pair of runs scored. Apfel had a monster day at the plate, going 4-for-4 with five RBIs and a home run. Powell also had four RBIs on the day as well as a home run. McCarthy ended up a triple short of the cycle, going 3-for-3 with four RBIs as well.
The Trojans hit the road for a three-game Sun Belt series with Florida International beginning Friday March 14. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CST.
