LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Arkansas-Little Rock scored a combined six runs in the seventh and eighth innings Saturday afternoon to even its weekend series against the Western Kentucky University baseball team with an 8-2 victory at Gary Hogan Field.
WKU (17-10, 6-2 Sun Belt Conference) tallied single runs in the first and fifth innings and entered the bottom of the seventh inning in a 2-2 tie before the Trojans (12-14, 3-5) pulled away in the final innings.
Right fielder Ryan Hutchison went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs, and left fielder Jared Andreoli and center fielder Kes Carter each finished with a pair of hits.
The Hilltoppers left 13 total runners on base, including eight in scoring position.
A four-run bottom of the seventh put UALR in front for good. The Trojans, who added to their 6-2 lead with a pair of runs in the eighth, were paced by three hits each from shortstop Greg Garcia, catcher Nick Rountree and designated hitter Justin Barnes.
Hilltoppers starting pitcher Justin Hageman limited the Trojans to two runs on nine hits with a walk and seven strikeouts in six innings. In three conference starts, he has a 3.26 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 19-1/3 innings.
WKU junior reliever Ross Hammonds (0-1) gave up four runs - two earned - on three hits with two walks and a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning, and sophomore right-hander Taylor Haydel gave up a pair of runs on two hits in the final two innings.
The Hilltoppers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on an RBI single by Hutchison. Catcher Matt Rice scored on the play after reaching base on a single.
An RBI single by Rountree tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third.
UALR took its first lead of the game, 2-1, in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by right fielder Myles Parma.
WKU knotted the score for the second time in the top of the fifth when Hutchison led off the inning with a solo home run, his third of the season.
The Trojans' four-run seventh began with an RBI single by Rountree, followed by an RBI groundout from third baseman Casey McCollum. Center fielder Cameron Bentley later added a two-run single.
UALR added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth on a two-run double by first baseman Jake Rowell.
Trojans senior left-hander Ryan Juris (1-0) did not allow a hit or a run with three walks and three strikeouts in four innings of relief. Starter Travis Henke was touched for two runs on nine hits in five innings with a pair of walks and two strikeouts.
The Hilltoppers will go for the series win at 1 p.m. Sunday. WKU will send redshirt senior right-hander Brian Edelen (3-0, 3.86 ERA) to the mound against UALR right-hander Calvin Drinnen (2-2, 4.61).
