Box score


LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  – UALR scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning en route to a 13-9 series-clinching win over University of South Alabama baseball Saturday at Gary Hogan Field.

The first five Trojan hitters scored in the bottom of the first, which was aided by three home runs.

USA (12-23, 7-7 SBC) cut the UALR lead to 5-2 in the top of the second on a two-out, two-run double by J.T. Files off the right-center field wall following consecutive walks to lead off the frame by Trojan right-hander Blake Huffman.

But UALR answered with a single run in the third on an RBI groundout by Bryson Thionnet, and added four runs in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI triple by Ben Crumpton, two-run double by Nick Rountree and RBI single by Myles Parma to take a 10-2 lead.

The Jaguars cut the deficit to 10-3 on a fifth inning RBI single by Dustin Dalken, but the Trojans answered with a run in the bottom-half of the frame on a fielder’s choice RBI off the bat of Rountree to increase their lead to 11-3.

South Alabama responded with a six-run sixth inning that cut the Trojan lead to 11-9. Whitt Dorsey pushed he first run of the inning across on an RBI single to right field that scored Hunt Griffith after he reached on a fielder’s choice and moved to third on a single by Nolan Earley. Brad Hook then drew a walk to load the bases. Nick Zaharion reached on catcher’s interference to score Earley before Dalken blasted the first pitch he saw from Trojan right-hander Austin Pfeiffer over the left field wall for a grand slam to cap the inning.

Bentley pushed the UALR lead to 12-9 in the bottom of the eighth with an RBI triple to right field. Crumpton singled later in the frame to push the Trojan lead to 13-9 for the game’s final run.

Huffman (4-3) earned the win 5 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and six walks. Dillon Buhrkuhl (1-4) took the loss in three innings, allowing eight runs on eight hits with a pair of walks.

Bentley went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, one RBI and four runs, and Crumpton finished 3-for-4 with a triple, home run, four RBI and two runs scored to lead the Trojans at the plate.

Dalken finished 3-for-5 with a homer, five RBI and one run scored to lead South Alabama. Whitt Dorsey added two hits, an RBI and a run, Files doubled and drove in two and Earley finished with two hits including a double.

The series will conclude Sunday at 11 a.m.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).