JONESBORO, Ark. (5-16-2008) ? Arkansas-Little Rock starter David Klumpp kept Arkansas State off the scoreboard for eight innings, giving up just four hits along the way, and the Trojans pounded out 19 hits to defeat the Arkansas State Indians 15-5 Friday night at Tomlinson Stadium and Kell Field.
With the win, UALR (15-32, 9-18) took a 2-0 lead in the final Sun Belt Conference series of the season and picked up their first series victory over Arkansas State (20-33-1, 8-20-1) since the 2004 season.
The Trojans led 15-0 heading into the final inning before ASU spoiled the shutout for Klumpp. UALR scored four times in the second inning and once in the fourth to take a 5-0 lead. A three-run home run from Trojan junior Jared Powell got the scoring started in the second and ASU never recovered.
The Trojans added three runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth to push the UALR lead to 11-0, and UALR added three more in the eighth and one in the ninth before ASU was able to get on the board with five runs in the final inning.
Freshmen Cade Baxter and Danny Riemenschneider drove in ASU's first two runs. A sacrifice from freshman Murray Watts plated the third run of the night for the Indians, and a two-run double from senior A.J. Prickel completed the scoring.
Klumpp (3-7) struck out seven in eight innings of work to pick up the win for UALR, while junior Nick Lambert (0-3) took the loss for the Tribe. Lambert gave up four runs on five hits with a walk and two strikeouts in two innings of work.
Junior Kody Kroll went 4-for-6 on the night to lead UALR, with junior Eric Hanlon and senior Levi McCarthy adding three hits each. Riemenschneider had two hits on the night to lead ASU.
Arkansas State and Arkansas-Little Rock will wrap up the season and the series Saturday at 2 p.m.
Prior to Friday night's game, ASU presented three graduating seniors with their diplomas at a graduation ceremony held at home plate.
Diplomas were presented to graduating seniors Joel Boeschen, Pete Pasternak and Prickel at the ceremony. The three members of the baseball team were competing in Boca Raton, Fla. when Arkansas State's spring graduation ceremony was held May 10. Former Indian baseball player Josh Yates was presented with his diploma as well.
