LITTLE ROCK – Little Rock dropped an 8-4 decision to North Alabama Friday afternoon in the opening game of a weekend series at Gary Hogan Field. A four-run fifth and a two-run ninth by the Lions put North Alabama proved too much for Little Rock to overcome as the Trojans fall to 6-5 on the season.
North Alabama struck first with a run with one out in the second, but a pair of strikeouts from starter
Hayden Arnold limited the damage. The Trojans were then able to even things up in the bottom of the fourth off a
Kale Emshoff solo home run, his third of the season.
Arnold faced a pair of batters in the fifth, but left the game with two runners on and nobody out. The Lions proceeded to score four runs in the frame, putting Arnold on the hook for the loss for allowing the first two base runners.
Little Rock got a pair of runs back in the bottom of the sixth, thanks to RBI singles from
Tucker Childers and
Houston Parker, getting the Trojans to within two at 5-3. Another Lion run in the top of the seventh pushed the lead back to three at 6-3, answered with an RBI double by Emshoff in the bottom half of the inning, getting Little Rock to within two at 6-4.
But a one out two RBI double by North Alabama in the top of the ninth added a pair of insurance runs and the Trojans couldn't respond in the bottom half of the inning to take the 8-4 loss.
The two teams combined for 25 hits on the day and both kept runners on the base paths with the Trojans stranding nine and the Lions leaving seven on base. Emshoff finished the day 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI while
Kobe Barnum and Childers each tallied two hits.
A pair of Trojans came in in relief to help spark the offense at the plate as
Houston Parker and
Tim Dixon both registered two hits on the day for Little Rock. Dixon had a pair of runs scored while Parker drove in a run.
Arnold is tagged with the loss after going 4.0 innings and allowing three runs on six hits with six strikeouts.
Dillon Delgadillo allowed two runs in his inning of work while
Luke Wallner went 3.1 innings for the Trojans, allowing three runs on three hits.
Game two of the three game series is schedule for 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon at Gary Hogan Field.
Eli Sievert is expected to get the start on the mound for Little Rock.
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