PINE BLUFF, Ark. — The Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions turned a quiet start into a dominant second half, scoring 10 runs on 15 hits to defeat Little Rock 10-8 Tuesday afternoon at home. It marks the second consecutive home win for UAPB over the Trojans, a streak dating back to last season, as the Golden Lions improved to 5-9 on the year in a contest that lasted three hours and 35 minutes under sunny skies in Pine Bluff.
The Golden Lions put the bat on the ball early, with Jose Vasquez and Konner Giddley opening the game with back-to-back singles in the first inning. However, a double play erased the threat and UAPB was held scoreless through four innings. Starter Ryland Morin set the tone on the mound in the first, sitting down the Little Rock lineup in order on three straight looking strikeouts before running into trouble in the later frames.
UAPB broke through in the fifth inning, plating two runs to begin chipping away at an 8-0 deficit. Blake Coleman, inserted as a pinch hitter, delivered a double to left center that scored Aaron Grant. Jose Vasquez then singled through the right side to score Coleman, making it 8-2 heading to the sixth.
Then came the flood. The Golden Lions sent 11 batters to the plate in the sixth inning, erupting for five runs to flip the scoreboard in their favor. Zach Wieder drew a walk and Matt Dworsky singled up the middle to put two runners aboard. A throwing error by Little Rock's catcher moved the runners up before Dane Small drew a walk to load the bases. Aaron Grant then singled through the left side to score the first run of the frame. Coleman — making the most of his pinch-hit opportunity — singled through the left side with two on, bringing home two more and putting UAPB ahead for the first time. Vasquez capped the big inning with a two-run single through the right side, finishing the day 3-for-5 with three RBI out of the leadoff spot.
The Golden Lions added an insurance run in the seventh when Wieder — who finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a double — came home on a sacrifice fly by Aaron Grant, who capped a 2-for-3 day with a walk, two RBI, and two runs scored. UAPB tacked on two more in the eighth on unearned runs, with Giddley and Ian Smith each crossing the plate to push the lead to 10-8.
Brendan Hamlin (1-1) earned the win out of the bullpen, tossing 3.2 innings of shutout baseball while allowing just one hit and striking out three to nail down the decision. Coleman was the offensive standout off the bench, reaching base in all three of his plate appearances and finishing 2-for-2 with a double, a walk, three RBI, and two runs scored.
