Box Score LITTLE ROCK, Ark. ? The UALR Trojans baseball team (4-16, 1-6) dropped another one-run game to Louisiana-Lafayette as they fell to the Ragin' Cajuns by an 8-7 score. The Trojans had a 6-3 lead, but a five-run eighth inning spelled doom for the home team.
As opposed to the first two games of the series, the Trojans jumped out early on the Ragin' Cajuns. In the bottom of the second, Robert Taylor led off with a home run to center field.
Taylor did more damage in the bottom half of the third. After Daniel Guffey singled and Greg McCarthy got hit by a pitch, Taylor doubled down the left field line scoring both runners, putting UALR up early 3-0.
The Ragin' Cajuns answered in the top of the fifth inning. Blaine LaFleur singled to third base. A single by Tyler Benzel put two runners on for Matt Hicks. Hicks singled to left field, scoring LaFleur from second. Trojan-killer Josh Logan again proved a pivotal player for ULL. He tripled to center field, scoring Benzel and Hicks and knotting up the score at three apiece.
It didn't take long for the Trojans to answer. In the bottom of the sixth, Taylor led off with a single to left field. Brad Swiderski got onto first when the sacrifice bunt he laid down was thrown away by the pitcher. Taylor later scored on a wild pitch, putting the Trojans up 4-3.
Kody Kroll doubled to left center field scoring Swiderski. Kroll later scored on a fielding error, giving the Trojan a three-run cushion.
Things fell apart for the home team in the top half of the eighth. Logan led off the inning with a home run to right field. Scott Hawkins doubled down the left field line. Chance Harst then followed with a home run to left center field.
After LaFleur walked, Benzel singled to left field scoring LaFleur from second base. Hicks then doubled to right center scoring Benzel, giving the Ragin' Cajuns an 8-6 lead.
The Trojans tried to mount a comeback in the ninth. Matt Apfel singled up the middle. McCarthy then doubled down the left field line, scoring Apfel. However, Swiderski flew out to left field to end the game.
Ashur Tolliver went seven and a third innings for the Trojans, striking out eight and walking one. Taylor had a monster day for the Trojans, going 3-for-4 at the plate, with two runs scored and three RBIs.
Logan had another big day for the Ragin' Cajuns. He went 3-for-4 as well, with three RBIs. Louisiana-Lafayette starter Brent Solich only lasted five innings, as he gave up six runs and struck out only two.
UALR will step outside of the Sun Belt conference on Tuesday to take on the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears at Gary Hogan Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
