MARION, Ill. (Interstat) — Nico Baumbach went 4 for 5 with a home run and two RBIs to lead Arkansas-Little Rock to a 7-5 victory over SIU Edwardsville on Saturday in the Ohio Valley Conference Baseball Championship.

Baumbach homered in the second inning to open the scoring. The Trojans extended their lead with a five-run third inning, highlighted by a two-run homer from Cooper Chaplain. Gage Haley threw 3 1/3 innings of hitless relief, allowing one earned run while striking out three. Tag Andrews added two scoreless innings with four strikeouts.

SIU Edwardsville rallied with single runs in the second, fifth and sixth innings but could not overcome the early deficit. Brennen Grams allowed five hits and one earned run over 3 1/3 innings with three strikeouts. Chase Bloomer had two hits and Daniel Gierer drove in a run.

The Trojans improved to 34-26 overall and won despite being outhit 12-9. The Cougars fell to 33-24. Arkansas-Little Rock had beaten the Cougars three times in four meetings earlier this season.