MARION, Ill. (Interstat) — Brody Bunting pitched eight strong innings and the Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans used a three-run first inning and a two-run eighth to defeat the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles 7-2 on Friday evening in an Ohio Valley Conference contest at Rent One Park.

Bunting allowed one earned run on six hits while striking out six over eight innings. He walked one and improved his season record. The right-hander retired the side in order in the second, fourth, sixth and seventh innings. Bunting allowed only one extra-base hit, a home run by Southern Indiana third baseman Parker Martin in the fourth inning.

Arkansas-Little Rock (33-26) struck first in the bottom of the first inning. After Lopez grounded out, Smith singled to center field. Freund reached on a fielding error by second baseman Stephens, allowing Smith to advance to third. Freund moved to second on a wild pitch, and Smith scored on the same wild pitch to give the Trojans a 1-0 lead. Freund advanced to third on another wild pitch. Simpson grounded out to shortstop, driving in Freund to tie the game at 2-2. Cano grounded out to end the inning.

Southern Indiana (29-29) had taken a 2-0 lead in the top of the first without a hit. Miller grounded out, Holiday singled up the middle, then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Hill. McLellan and Wall struck out to strand Holiday at third.

The Trojans regained the lead in the third inning. Smith popped out, then Freund walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. Simpson doubled to deep left field, scoring Freund to make it 3-2. After a pitching change, Cano grounded out, and Baumbach singled through the right side, driving in Simpson for a 4-2 advantage.

Southern Indiana cut the deficit to 4-3 in the fourth when Martin homered to right field, his solo shot. The Screaming Eagles had a chance to tie in the fifth after Miller singled and advanced to second on a throwing error by Bunting on a pickoff attempt, but Holiday struck out and McLellan flied out.

Arkansas-Little Rock added an unearned run in the sixth. Baumbach singled, Rhoades singled, and both moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Hill. After Chaplain lined out, Baumbach scored on a passed ball to make it 5-2.

The Trojans put the game away in the eighth with two more runs. Baumbach singled, Michael reached on a fielding error by shortstop Slack, and Hill walked to load the bases. Chaplain struck out. Lopez doubled down the left-field line, clearing the bases with a two-run double to make it 7-2. Southern Indiana used three pitchers in the inning but could not stop the rally.

Southern Indiana’s bullpen combined for 4 1/3 scoreless innings after the first inning, but the damage had been done. Abdriel Figueroa pitched four shutout innings with three strikeouts. Jake Porter worked two innings and allowed one unearned run.

For Arkansas-Little Rock, Blake Simpson drove in two runs with a double and a groundout. Lopez added two RBIs with his eighth-inning double. Bunting benefited from strong defense and timely hitting.

The most critical sequence occurred in the bottom of the eighth inning. With the Trojans leading 5-2, Baumbach singled and Michael reached on an error to put runners at first and second with one out. After a walk to Hill loaded the bases, Lopez delivered the decisive blow with a double to left-center field, scoring two runs and giving Arkansas-Little Rock a five-run lead. The inning erased any comeback hopes for Southern Indiana, which had managed only one hit after the fourth inning against Bunting.

Southern Indiana had taken an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on a Holiday single and two stolen bases, but the Trojans answered immediately. The game featured four wild pitches and two errors by Southern Indiana, which committed three errors overall.

The Trojans have won two straight against Southern Indiana after a 7-3 victory on Wednesday. Bunting’s previous outing was a brief 1 2/3-inning appearance against Southeast Missouri State on May 16. His performance Friday was his longest of the season.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Southern Indiana 5, Arkansas-Little Rock 4. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Arkansas-Little Rock with a 57.00 percent probability to win.