Box Score LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Adam Champion pitched 7.2 scoreless innings and three different Trojan players drove in two runs apiece as the UALR (8-2) cruised to a 12-0 shutout win over the IPFW Mastodons (0-7) Friday night at Gary Hogan Field.
"I thought Adam threw the ball well and we made some great plays behind him tonight especially the play by Casey [McCollum] at third," said head coach Scott Norwood. "I really like the way our guys came out tonight and hopefully we can come back with the same intensity tomorrow."
Champion struck out nine Mastodon hitters and scattered just four hits en route to his second win of the 2010 campaign. Sean Potter came in to finish off IPFW as he threw 1.1 innings and struck out three. Potter, who didn't allow a hit, threw 13 strikes on 13 pitches.
UALR, who pounded out their 12 runs on 13 hits, got three hits apiece from Casey McCollum and Jason Houston. Houston had a pair of doubles, crossed home plate three times and drove in a run while McCollum scored two runs of his own.
Not to be outdone, Tommie Johnson, Jake Rowell and Tyler Cameron all drove in a pair of runs to help the offensive attack.
The Trojans got their first run in the bottom of the second inning on Rowell's second home run of the season. After a scoreless third, UALR busted out for six runs in the bottom of the fourth. After a bunt single by Cameron drove in Landis Wilson and a two-run single by Johnson made the score 3-0, the Trojans loaded the bases and IPFW leftfielder Nate Thomas misplayed a fly ball off the bat of Rowell which allowed all three Trojan base runners to score.
UALR used a series of Mastodon mishaps in the sixth inning to push three more runs across the plate. The Trojans were threatening with runners on first and third when IPFW pitcher Craig Martin threw a wild pitch which allowed Houston to score from third and Rowell to advance to third. Rowell, however, would come around to score after a throwing error by Mastodon catcher Cory Miller sailed into left field. The Trojans got their third run of the inning when Cameron singled to right center, driving in Wilson.
IPFW threatened to end the shutout in the seventh inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, IPFW's Matt Keys laced a ground ball down the third base line but McCollum made a beautiful snag and an even more impressive throw across the diamond to get the Trojans out of the jam.
An RBI double by Houston and an RBI single by Rowell gave the Trojans two more runs in the bottom half of the seventh, finalizing the scoring for the evening.
The Trojans, who tied their best start since joining the Sun Belt Conference with the win, will square off with the Mastodons for game two Saturday at 4 p.m.
