FLORENCE, Ala. – A career day from
Kobe Barnum ignited the Little Rock offense as the Trojans notch their first series victory of the season with a 10-3 win over North Alabama at Mike D. Lane Stadium. The win gives Little Rock four victories in its last five games, evening its season record at 5-5.
Barnum finished the afternoon 4-for-5 from the plate with six RBI and seven total bases. He accounted for four of Little Rock's 11 hits on the afternoon with
John Michael Russ and
Nathan Lyons both going 2-for-3 from the plate as well. Russ and
Chris Prentiss also drove in runs for the Trojans who scored a season-high 10 runs on the afternoon.
The scoring began in the top of the first off a
Tyler Williams single. Williams then proceeded to steal second and third, then notched the first run of the game when the Trojans pulled a double steal, giving Little Rock the 1-0 lead.
That score carried into the fourth when Russ drew a walk and Lyons single, putting two on for Barnum. The senior would take advantage, belting his second home run in as many days, sending a shot over the wall in right center to give Little Rock the 4-0 lead.
North Alabama got a pair back in the bottom of the fourth, taking advantage of two Trojan errors to cut the deficit in half at 4-2. But Barnum would strike again in the top of the sixth with
Noah Dickerson (error), Russ (single) and Lyons (hit by pitch) loading the bases, bringing in a pair with a single to make it 6-2 Little Rock after six.
The Trojan offense was aided by strong pitching as
Jacob Weatherley came on in relief in the bottom of the fourth and limited North Alabama to just one run off one hit over his 3.1 innings of work, striking out four to earn the first win of his collegiate career.
Holding a 6-3 lead going into the ninth inning, Little Rock ensured it would secure its first series victory of the season. Following walks to
Eldrige Figueroa and Dickerson, Russ continued his hot start to the season with an RBI single to score Figueroa, followed by an RBI single from Prentiss to bring Dickerson home.
With the bases loaded for Barnum, he delivered again, drilling an RBI single to right to score Russ, and a run down between second and third would allow Prentiss to trot home, giving Little Rock the final 10-3 margin.
Luke Wallner came on to pitch the ninth for Little Rock in relief of
Austin Smith and retired both batters he saw, beginning with a strikeout and ending the game with a 6-4-3 double play to secure the win.
Little Rock's pitching staff once again kept North Alabama on its toes, striking out 10 on the afternoon to up its total to 31 for the series with a 2.42 ERA and holding the Lions to a .156 batting average over the weekend.
Starter
Jack DeCooman earned the no decision, going 3.2 innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits with five walks and four strikeouts.
Dillon Delgadillo and Smith combined to pitch the eighth before giving way to Wallner in the ninth as the Lions were held to just four hits on the day.
As a team, the Trojans batted .295 in the weekend series against North Alabama, led by Russ going 8-for-12 (.667) with three RBI and Lyons batting .556 (5-for-9). Barnum finished with a .500 average over the three-game series (5-for-10) with the two home runs and seven RBI.
Little Rock will go without a midweek game this week before returning to Alabama for a three game weekend series at SEC foe Auburn. The three game series against the Tigers will get underway with a 6 p.m. first pitch Friday at Plainsman Park, followed by a 2 p.m. first pitch Saturday and a 1 p.m. start Sunday.
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