LITTLE ROCK – Big innings in the third, fourth and eighth were too much for Little Rock to overcome in an 11-5 loss to Central Arkansas Tuesday afternoon at Gary Hogan Field. The loss snaps the Trojans' five-game win streak as Little Rock sits at 16-13 on the season.
Little Rock struck first in the bottom of the second, getting out of a bases loaded jam in the top half of the inning, followed by a
Tyler Williams single and steal, advancing to third with one out off a throwing error. A
Jack Stroth RBI single brought Williams home, giving Little Rock the early 1-0 lead.
But Central Arkansas responded with three runs in the third and a pair in the fourth, using a pair of doubles to build a 5-1 advantage. Little Rock chipped away in the home half of the fourth as Williams sent a solo home run 400 feet to straight away center, narrowing the deficit to 5-2.
Little Rock cut into that lead further in the seventh as Williams drew a seven-pitch lead-off walk, followed by a Stroth home run two pitches later, cutting the UCA advantage to just one at 5-4. But the Bears responded with six runs in the top of the eighth, pushing the game out of reach at 11-4.
The Trojans would get one back as Stroth singled to lead off the inning, then scored on an RBI double from
Eldrige Figueroa, but that was all the damage Little Rock could do as the Trojans fall 11-5.
Stroth paced the Trojans by going 3-for-4 from the plate with three RBI and a pair of runs scored, with
Noah Dickerson doing 2-for-4. Williams' home run was part of a 1-for-3 afternoon as he drew a pair of walks with Figueroa's double driving in the other run for the Trojans.
Little Rock used nine pitchers on the afternoon, beginning with starter
Erik McKnight pitching the first inning and setting down the Bears in order with a strikeout.
Matthew Davis earned the loss after allowing three runs on three hits with three walks in 1.2 innings of work.
Calvin Hunt had a solid outing, pitching the sixth and seventh innings and allowing just one hit with a strikeout.
Evan Vanek pitched a hitless ninth for Little Rock, allowing no hits with just one walk.
The Trojans continue their seven-game home stand with another in-state rival, welcoming Arkansas State to Gary Hogan Field for the final time as Sun Belt foes. The three-game series against the Red Wolves gets underway Thursday at 6 p.m.
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