Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 MURRAY, Ky. ? The Arkansas-Little Rock baseball team split a doubleheader at Murray State on Saturday, taking the first game 10-5 before dropping a 4-0 decision in the second installment. The Trojans (9-6) rode a complete game from junior Matt Bates (1-1) to the win in game one, but were held to two hits in the game two loss.
UALR trailed 4-2 after two innings in the first game but manufactured five runs in the top of the seventh by banging out five of its 14 hits, to break a 4-all tie and take a 9-4 lead. The Trojans racked up six extra-base hits in the win, including a season-high three triples.
Junior Brian Smiley led the Trojans with three stolen bases and a 4-for-5 day at the plate, followed by a 3-for-5 effort from junior Matt King. Smiley and senior Derek Eilers drove in a team-high two runs a piece.
Bates went a full 9.0 innings for UALR, allowing 10 hits, one walk and five runs en route to his first complete game. Andrew Bishop (0-1) took the loss for the ?Breds, allowing nine runs (six earned) over 6.2 innings of work.
Murray State evened the series in game two, taking a 4-0 victory in the seven-inning contest behind a complete-game two-hitter by Michal Perconte (1-1). Senior Rob Harmon (1-1) went the full 6.0 frames for the Trojans and took the loss after surrendering four unearned runs off six hits and a walk, while striking out six batters.
Perconte fanned eight and walked three to lead Murray State to its first victory of the 2006 season. Smiley and Eilers accounted for the Trojans' two hits in the losing effort.
The teams will play the rubber match of the three-game series on Sunday at noon.
