LAFAYETTE, La. – Runs eluded Little Rock for the second straight day in Lafayette and double plays proved costly as Little Rock dropped a 4-0 decision to Louisiana Saturday evening at Russo Park.
The loss drops the Trojans to 20-17 overall and 9-7 in Sun Belt Conference play, slipping a half game back of both the Ragin' Cajuns and UT Arlington in the Sun Belt West Division.
"Obviously our team is very frustrated with the way things have gone this week thus far," said head coach
Chris Curry. "We haven't been able to put it together offensively and get that big hit we need with runners on. We had our chances tonight and better at-bats, but still nothing to show for it. We need to salvage the weekend tomorrow, be ready to play and play with all of our energy."
Little Rock managed just four hits on the evening, but each of those opportunities were quickly snuffed out defensively by Louisiana as the Ragin' Cajuns turned four double plays on the evening.
The first came in the top of the first as
Marcus Ragan led off the game with a single, followed by a fielder's choice by
Danny Mitchell Jr. to give Little Rock two on with no outs. But Louisiana turned a 6-4-3 double play, followed by a ground out to end the opportunity.
In the fourth,
Kale Emshoff reached on a one-out single, but a 4-6-3 double play ended the Trojan at-bat. One inning later, back-to-back singles from
Nick Perez and
Troy Alexander gave Little Rock two runners on with no outs once again. But just like the first, the Cajuns turned a 6-4-3 double play, followed by a strikeout to leave Perez stranded 90 feet away.
In the sixth, Ragan and Mitchell Jr. walked to lead off the inning, marking the third time the Trojans had a pair of runners on base with nobody out. But Louisiana once again escaped unscathed, registering three consecutive strikeouts.
Little Rock's final rally attempt came in the eighth as Mitchell Jr. drew a 3-2 walk with one out. But as was the story all evening, the Trojan opportunity ended on a double play as Louisiana went 5-4-3, essentially sealing the victory.
Starter
Pablo Ortiz took the loss for Little Rock, allowing four runs on five hits in 3.0 innings pitched.
Hayden Arnold came on and provided 4.1 innings of solid relief work, allowing just two hits and three strikeouts before
Ethan Daily closed out the final 0.2 innings in the eighth.
Louisiana registered a pair of runs in both the second and third innings, building the 4-0 lead before keeping the Trojans at bay. The Ragin' Cajuns plated runs off a double steal and an sacrifice fly in the second, then belted a home run and an RBI single in the third.
Little Rock will try to salvage the final game of the weekend series Sunday afternoon, beginning with a 1 p.m. first pitch at Russo Park.
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