Box Score LITTLE ROCK - UALR senior Adam Champion went the distance on Friday night, scattering seven hits and allowing just one unearned run to lead the Trojans (25-23, 8-15) to a 3-1 win over ULM (17-32, 7-18) at Gary Hogan Field.
After allowing a run to ULM in the top of the first, the Evansville, Ind.-native put together eight-consecutive scoreless innings, retiring 11 in-a-row at one point, en route to his third complete game of the year. He finished with four strikeouts against two walks to improve to 6-4 on the year and lower his ERA to 3.08.
ULM's Drew Granier (4-6) was the hard-luck loser in Friday night's pitcher's duel, taking the loss despite holding the Trojans to six hits and three runs (two earned) over 7.0 innings.
The Warhawks scratched across a run in the top of the first to take an early 1-0 lead after a Trojan fielding error extended the inning. With runners on the corners and two outs, Casey Auttonberry plated Judd Edwards with a RBI base knock to left.
The Trojans had a chance to tie things up in the bottom half after loading the bases with two outs on the board, but Granier induced an inning-ending lineout to second to escape the jam unscathed. Granier wasn't as fortunate in the second, as UALR knotted things up at 1-all when junior Jake Rowell delivered a two-out, run-scoring single through the right side with runners on the corners.
UALR went on top 2-1 in the bottom of the third when senior Landis Wilson scored from first on a double to right by senior Nate Brown. ULM right fielder Perry Smith bobbled the ball as he attempted to corral Brown's hit, allowing Wilson to come all the way around from first.
After allowing two hits in the top of the first, Champion held the Warhawks without a hit over the next four frames. The 6-7 lefty followed up a leadoff walk to Smith in the top of the second by retiring the next 11 Warhawks he faced. ULM went down 1-2-3 in the third, fourth and fifth innings, before Caleb Clowers drew a leadoff walk to open the sixth.
Down 2-1, ULM threatened in the top of the eighth, putting two runners on with one out following back-to-back singles by Clowers and Edwards. With the tying run on second, Champion got a pop-up to second and a foul out to third to end the threat and preserve the 2-1 lead.
Senior Tyson Parks helped the Trojans tack on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth by opening the frame with his team-leading 19th double of the year. Wilson drew a walk to put two runners on base and chase Granier from the game. Justin Miller took the mound in relief of Grainer, but couldn't prevent UALR from extending its lead as Brown reached on a bunt single to load the bases with no outs. Senior Tim Emmons came on as a pinch hitter and delivered a sacrifice fly to center to plate Parks and make it a 3-1 contest.
Champion finished off the Warhawks with a scoreless ninth to give UALR its third-consecutive victory and fourth-straight quality start.
Brown and Rowell paced the Trojans with two hits apiece, while Edwards and Smith each tallied two hits to lead the Warhawks.
The two teams return to action Saturday at 4 p.m. for the second contest of a three-game Sun Belt Conference series.
