Trojans Rally For 5-4 Win To Take Series Against UTA
LITTLE ROCK - Little Rock came from behind late to defeat UT Arlington 5-4 Sunday afternoon at Gary Hogan Field. The Trojans improve their record to 13-10 on the year while taking over first place in the Sun Belt West at 4-2, registering their third series win in row.
The comeback started in the fourth with the Trojans trailing the Mavericks 3-0. Singles by Troy Alexander and Chase Coker and a walk for Nick Perez loaded the bases for James Gann, who brought them all home with a three RBI double to left, knotting the game at 3-3.
Fast forward to the eighth inning with the Trojans down one after the Mavericks put a run on the board in the sixth. Matt Merino ripped his fifth home run of the year, a single shot to left, tying the game at 4-4.
Kale Emshoff then delivered with his ninth double of the year with two outs, advancing to third on a wild pitch. Coker then knocked a single up the middle, scoring Emshoff and putting the Trojans on top 5-4.
That was all Justin Garcia needed as he sent the Mavericks down in order in the top of the ninth, registering a pair of strikeouts to get the win. Garcia faced the minimum amount of batters after retiring them in order in eighth and ninth inning while tallying three strikeouts. He improves his record to 2-1 on the year while upping his strikeout total to 46.
Ethan Daily started the game for the Trojans and last 3.0 innings, allowing three runs off of six hits and two walks. He was able to pick up four strikeouts. Hayden Arnold and Donavin Buck came out of the bullpen to pitch four innings, holding UTA to one run on four hits before Garcia entered the game in the eighth.
Coker and Alexander led the Trojans with a pair of hits on the day as Coker was 2-for-3 with the game-winning RBI while Alexander was 2-for-4 with a run scored. The two continue to pace the Trojans at the plate with Alexander batting .387 and Coker right behind at .371.
The home run by Merino was his fifth on the year and gave him home runs in back-to-back games for the second time this year after he hit home runs in three straight games a few weeks back. Gann ended 1-for-3 after knocking in the three RBIs in the fourth, giving him five for the series.
Little Rock picked up its first-ever series win over UT Arlington, taking two of three from the Mavericks, while notching its third-straight series win on the year after series victories over Memphis and Troy.
Little Rock will round out their four game home stand with a midweek game against Oral Roberts on March 27 with first pitch at 6 p.m. at Gary Hogan Field.
LaFleur Lifts Louisiana To Walk-Off Win Over Troy In Series Finale
LAFAYETTE, La. – Senior Zach LaFleur provided the walk-off winner on Sunday as the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team defeated Troy 4-3 in the series finale at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park.
Senior Logan Stoelke earned his second victory of the season for Louisiana (10-13, 2-4 SBC) going 2.0 innings allowing just one hit with a strikeout.
CJ Carter was the losing pitcher for the Trojans (16-8, 3-3 SBC) giving up one run on two hits in 0.2 innings of work.
LEADING THE CAJUNS
Senior Kennon Fontenot reached base three times in the game going 2-for-3 at the plate and drove in a run as the Ragin' Cajuns were outhit 8-7.
Starter Colten Schmidt registered his third quality start of the season limiting a dangerous Troy offense to three runs (two earned) on seven hits with four strikeouts. For the fifth time this season, Schmidt didn't allow a free pass as he has just two walks given up on the year.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Troy got out to a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first at Matt Sanders doubled to lead off the game and then came home to score on a sacrifice fly to right field by Joey Denison.
The Ragin' Cajuns got things going offensively in the bottom half of the second when Tyler Stover came home to score on a throwing error by Trojans starter Max Newton to even the game at 1-all. Louisiana grabbed a 2-1 edge later in the inning on an RBI groundout to shortstop by Jonathan Windham.
The Trojans knotted the game at 2-all in the top of the fifth on an RBI double by Sanders to left field.
Louisiana answered quickly to regain the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Gavin Bourgeois came home to score on a bunt single by Fontenot to make the score 3-2.
In the top of the eighth, Drew Frederic drove a two-out double into the gap in right center to bring home a run and tie the contest for the third time on the day.
The Cajuns rallied in the bottom of the ninth as LaFleur slapped a 1-2 pitch from Carter through the right side of the infield to plate pinch runner Marco Ramos and win the game.
UP NEXT
Louisiana heads to Metairie, La. on Tuesday at 7 p.m. to face No. 15 LSU in the annual Wally Pontiff Jr. Classic at the Shrine on Airline. The Cajuns then return to Sun Belt Conference play on Thursday, March 29 with a three-game series at Arkansas State.
ULM Hits Grand Slam to Walk-off Arkansas State
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