THE OFFICIAL ATHLETICS SITE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA LIONS

A native of Port Arthur, Texas, Robert Lopez was one of the most dominant pitchers in the 94-year history of the Lion baseball program and went on to play eight seasons in professional baseball following his time at UNA. 

A starting pitcher for the Lions for two seasons from 1984-85, Lopez was a two-time first-team All-Gulf South Conference honoree and two-time All-South Region pick, while leading the Lions to their first Gulf South Conference baseball title in 1984 and the program's first NCAA Baseball Regional appearances in 1984 and 1985. 

He closed his two-year career at UNA with a 20-8 record that included 21 complete games in 28 starts, and an additional three saves. The 21 complete-games is a UNA career record and his 11 complete games in 1984 is also a school single-season record. His 10 complete games in 1984 ranks second. 

His 20 wins still rank fourth-best in school history and he is the only Lion pitcher on the 20-plus win list to only play two seasons at UNA. He had 223.2 career innings pitched and is one of just two Lion pitchers to ever pitch more than 100 innings in back-to-back seasons. His 11-1 record in 1985 is also the best season record by a UNA pitcher with at least 10 decisions. That season he finished fourth in the NCAA Division II in wins. 

In his 223-plus innings pitched, he struck out 169 batters and walked just 68. 

Lopez had a 2.54 ERA in 1984 and a career 2.89 ERA. 

He helped lead the Lions to a 28-24-1 record as a junior with a GSC Northern Division title, GSC Tournament championship and the school's first NCAA Tournament Appearance. The Lions were 46-11-1 in his senior season with a second straight NCAA appearance. UNA earned its first-ever DII national ranking in 1984 at No. 25, and the Lions ranked No. 2 nationally for four straight weeks in 1985 from April 1-22.

Following his time at UNA, Lopez played eight seasons in professional baseball, with seven seasons in the minor leagues and one season in Independent baseball.              

His professional career covered 1985-94. His seven years with the Cincinnati Reds organization began in 1985 with the Billings Mustangs of the Rookie League. He moved to the Tampa Tarpons in A League in 1986. In 1987 he split time with the AAA Nashville Sounds and the Vermont Reds. He continued play in AAA with the Sounds through 1989-91. His final professional stint was with the Beaumont Bullfrogs of the Texas-Louisiana League in 1994. He had a 50-33 overall record in the Minors with a 2.94 career ERA. He pitched in 154 games, throwing 30 complete games and 13 shutouts with one save. He threw 753.2 innings with 481 strikeouts and just 180 walks. Five of his seven Minor League seasons were in AAA. 

He and his wife, Mariebelle, live in Nederland, Texas. They have a daughter and a grandchild.