Box Score LITTLE ROCK, Ark. ? Senior Jacob Stover delivered a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth as Arkansas-Little Rock overcame a 13-6 deficit over the final two innings to down Western Kentucky 14-13 on Sunday afternoon. The Trojans (21-12, 3-3) captured their first Sun Belt Conference series of the year by scoring eight runs over the final two frames, including six in the bottom of the eighth.
After going hitless over the first three innings, the Hilltoppers (13-9, 2-4) exploded for eight runs in the top of the fourth. UALR starter Rob Harmon cruised through the first three frames but did not make it past the fourth. Back-to-back RBI doubles by Casey Hamilton and Dennis Winn put the Toppers ahead 2-1. Matt Ransdell followed with a two-run bases-loaded single to extend WKU's lead to three runs, 4-1. Junior Dustin Turner came on in relief of Harmon at that point, but couldn't escape the jam as a two-run single by Scotty Colt and a two-run homer by Jordan Newton made it an 8-1 contest. Newton's home run was his fifth of the year.
The Trojans cut their deficit to two runs, 8-6, in the bottom of the fifth after junior Brett Lawler and senior Tim Lawrence opened the frame with a single and a double, respectively. Junior Brian Asbill plated a run with a RBI groundout, which junior Tyler Mason followed with a run-scoring single through the left side. After a bases-loaded walk by senior Derek Eilers, junior Matt King ripped a two-run double to center to pull UALR within two, 8-6. King went 2-for-5 on the day and racked up a game-high four RBI.
With their lead cut to two, the Hilltoppers added five insurance runs over the next three innings to seemingly put the game out of reach. Junior Matt Bates issued back-to-back walks to start off the top of the sixth. The free passes proved costly as Hamilton delivered a two-out, two-run single to make it a 10-6 ballgame. WKU then tacked on three unearned runs in the top of the eighth off sophomore Grant Gatlin, thanks to a sacrifice fly by Winn, a run-scoring single by Jack Ambrose and a RBI double by Eric Scriven.
The UALR offense came to life in the bottom of the eighth, scoring six runs (thanks in part to two WKU errors) to pull within one, 13-12. The Trojans loaded the bases with one out off Adam Balcom, who was pulled in favor of Bryan Rider (1-2). Junior Ryan Gotcher delivered a two-run single to left center (his only hit of the game), which junior Brian Smiley followed with a run-scoring base knock to right. After a Hilltopper fielding error allowed Gotcher to score from third, King came through with a two-out, two-run double to left to cap off the rally.
Junior Adam Miller (6-2) came on to pitch in the top of the ninth after Gatlin issued a leadoff walk to Ransdell. The Hilltoppers moved a runner all the way to third, but could not plate an insurance run off the Knoxville, Iowa-native.
Rider retired the first batter he faced in the bottom of the ninth, before surrendering consecutive singles to Asbill and pinch hitter Matt Garlington. Gotcher walked to load the bases, setting the stage for a game-tying RBI single by Smiley. With the bases loaded and the outfield playing in, Stover sent an offering from Rider in to deep left center to score Garlington and give the Trojans the win.
Miller got his team-leading sixth win after throwing a scoreless ninth. Rider (1-2) was credited with the loss after allowing five runs (two earned) off seven hits over the final 1.0 innings.
UALR returns to action on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., when it travels to Memphis, Tenn., to face the Tigers.
