Box Score JONESBORO, Ark. – The Trojans had several chances to score, but were held scoreless by the Red Wolves and fell 3-0 at Tomlinson Stadium.
The shutout broke a streak of 94 games for UALR (9-6. 0-1 SBC) without being shut out despite outhitting ASU (9-8, 1-0 SBC).
UALR had a couple good scoring opportunities early but none better than the first inning. Ben Crumpton led off with a single up the middle and Austin Pfeiffer followed with a double down the right field line. Tanner Rockwell, then, drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. ASU starter David Owen was able to get out of the jam unscathed and completely turned around his outing.
The Trojans threatened again in the third with a couple of hits from Crumpton and Rockwell, but again Owen got out of the inning without any damage being done.
Owen went seven innings allowing six hits, but striking out 10 Trojans to get out of trouble.
UALR starter Travis McDonald (2-1) was cruising through the first five innings allowing just one hit while striking out three. The lefty ran into some trouble in the fifth when Stuart Levy hit a triple to right field.
Levy later tried to score on a fly ball to right field and reached home safely, but was called out for leaving third before Mitchell Scheuler caught the ball in right field. Still the Red Wolves were able to score on a two-out, two-run double by Dustin Jones to give ASU a 2-0 lead. The Trojans then picked off Zach Maggio but he was able to get to second safely in a rundown allowing Jones to race home and make it 3-0 ASU before McDonald could get out of the inning.
McDonald went 5.2 innings allowing three runs on five hits and struck out three while taking the loss. Stephen Chandler came on to get the final out of the sixth by retiring Levy. The junior remained in to pitch the seventh and eighth before being taken out for a left-on-left matchup. Senior lefty Chase Rousseau came on to face ASU left-hander Austin Baker. Rousseau did his job getting Baker to fly out to center field to end the inning.
Chandler worked 1.2 innings allowing just one base runner when he hit Kevin Fitzpatrick while striking out three.
Down 3-0 and needing a rally UALR got its leadoff batter on thanks to an ASU error. But were unable to take advantage and finished the game with no runs. It was the first game since April 6, 2012 at Middle Tennessee State that the Trojans failed to score.
Crumpton collected two hits and stole a base to lead UALR's offense. Rockwell went 2-for-2, drew a walk and reached on an error. Pfeiffer picked up his fourth double of the season. Hayden Martin added the Trojans' sixth hit with a single.
The Trojans and the Red Wolves will meet again on Saturday for a doubleheader starting at noon with the series finale beginning approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game. UALR will be on the road at Oklahoma on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. before returning home next Friday to start a series with South Alabama.
