LITTLE ROCK – Little Rock used an offensive explosion in game one, then solid pitching and defense in game two to take both games of a Sunday doubleheader against North Alabama. The victories complete a four-game weekend sweep of the Lions as Little Rock improves to 10-4 on the season, its best start to a season since starting the 2012 season 12-3.
Game One – Little Rock 16, North Alabama 4 (7 innings)
Little Rock's bats came alive early in the opening game against North Alabama, scoring 10 runs in the first inning en route to the 16-4 victory. 13 different Trojans came to bat in the first, scoring the 10 runs on seven hits.
A leadoff single by
Eldrige Figueroa got the day going, followed by a five-pitch walk to
Tyler Williams to put two runners on for
Canyon McWilliams. He took the third pitch he saw off the scoreboard in right center for a three-run shot, putting the Trojans on the board 3-0 early.
Noah Dickerson followed up with a triple, followed by an RBI single from
Nathan Lyons to push the lead to 4-0. A single from
Miguel Soto and a five-pitch walk to
Jake Wright loaded the bases for
Jorden Hussein, who drew an eight-pitch walk to bring Lyons home and make it 5-0 Trojans.
Figueroa singled in his second time to bat in the inning, bringing Soto home and pushing the lead to 6-0, leaving the bases loaded for Williams. The junior took advantage with a grand slam to left center, giving the Trojans the 10-0 lead after one.
Little Rock would use a double play to get out of a jam in the second, then get back-to-back doubles from Lyons and Wright to put two runners on for Hussein. The fifth year senior came through again with a single to left center, bringing the pair home to extend the lead to 12-0 after two.
North Alabama answered with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth off a two RBI double, but Hussein would answer again with an RBI double of his own in the home half of the fourth, extending the lead back to 11 at 13-2.
The Trojan bats came alive again in the fifth, beginning with a Williams double and an RBI single from Lyons to up the lead to 14-2. Soto drew a walk to put a pair on and the duo was brought home with back-to-back two-out singles from Wright and Bernabe to give Little Rock its 16 runs on the afternoon.
North Alabama added a pair in the top of the sixth, but the run support was more than enough for
Erik McKnight, who earned the win going 5.2 innings with four runs allowed on seven hits with three strikeouts, throwing 81 pitches.
Garrett DeHaas registered a strikeout in the top of the sixth to get the final out in his Trojan debut with
Reese Lansville shutting the door in the seventh.
At the plate, nine different Trojans combined for 17 hits in game one, led by a Figueroa and Lyons both going 3-for-4. Lyons drove in a pair and scored three runs while Figueroa had an RBI and two runs scored of his own.
Williams, Wright, Bernabe and Hussein each had two hits for Little Rock with Williams and Hussein both driving in four runs as Williams crossed home plate three times. McWilliams added three RBI off his first inning home run with Wright and Bernabe both notching an RBI.
Game Two – Little Rock 3, North Alabama 2 (7 innings)
Game two was much more of a pitcher's and defensive struggle as the Trojans scored three early runs, then held off a late North Alabama rally in the seventh to preserve the series sweep.
Hoss Brewer made his first start in a Trojan uniform and set the tone for the day in the top of the first, striking out the first two batters he saw to retire the Lions in order.
Little Rock's offense picked up where it left off in the bottom of the first as Figueroa opened the game with a four-pitch walk, then picked up his 10th stolen base of the season to get into scoring position. Dickerson came through with a two-out RBI single to right to allow Figueroa to score from second to put the Trojans on top 1-0.
The Trojans opened the second with a double down the left field line from Soto on the first pitch he saw, and two pitches later
Jack Stroth brought him home with an RBI single up the middle to make it 2-0 Trojans. Little Rock tried to add another with Bernabe getting a single to put two runners on, but Stroth was thrown out at third on a double steal attempt, and Bernabe was out at home for the third out of the inning trying to extend off a Figueroa single.
Brewer was commanding on the mound for the Trojans, taking a no hitter into the top of the fifth before a one out single through the left side ended the bid. He would answer with a strikeout to leave the runner stranded and the Trojans would give him an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth as Williams notched a two-out single and stole his team-best 11th base of the season, getting into scoring position for McWilliams, who drove him home with an opposite field single to up the lead to 3-0.
That run would prove crucial as North Alabama threatened in the sixth, getting runners to second and third with one out. But Brewer induced a chopper back to himself for the second out before a fly ball to Dickerson ended the threat.
North Alabama would threaten one last time in the top of the seventh, using a walk and a single to put two runners on before a two-RBI single scored a pair with nobody out. The Lions had a runner at second with no outs following a stolen base, but a key strikeout, followed by fly outs to Soto and Williams preserved the complete game victory for Brewer, who allowed two runs on five hits with four strikeouts on 104 pitches.
Eight Trojans combined for the 10 hits in game two, led by a 2-for-3 outings from both McWilliams and Soto. Dickerson and Stroth both drove home runs as Figueroa, Williams, Lyons and Bernabe each tallied hits for Little Rock in game two.
With the victories, Little Rock claims its third series victory of the season and its second sweep, improving to 10-3 at Gary Hogan Field. The Trojans conclude their five-game home stand Wednesday when they host Oral Roberts as first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
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