Box Score GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – The UALR baseball team (1-4) lost its fourth consecutive game on Saturday with a 17-4 loss to Missouri State (4-1).
Senior Tanner Rockwell was the muscle of the Trojans' offense as he went 4 for 4 with a triple, two RBIs and a run.
The Trojans were able to get on the board in the first inning after Rockwell singled up the middle to bring home Sam Vogel, who walked earlier in the inning.
In the third, Ryan Scott singled to left center to get on board with two outs. Rockwell then stepped up and delivered an RBI triple to right center, scoring Scott from first. Kyle Kirk then came through with an RBI single through the right side to score Rockwell.
After Sam Thoele threw five innings scoreless innings and only giving up a hit, Missouri State's bats finally came to life. After giving up two hits, two walks, and a run, Jarrid Garcia entered the game with bases loaded. With a full count, Garcia gave up a single and allowed another Missouri State run to score. After one batter, Garcia was replaced with Reed Willenborg, who allowed two more walks, two hits and another run. UALR was now trailing 5-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth.
After an eventless sixth inning at the plate for the Trojans, Dyllon Brownmiller replaced Willenborg coming into the seventh. After allowing two hits and two runs, Brownmiller was replaced with Rockwell, who made his first appearance on the mound this season. Missouri State continued the assault, including a rare inside-the-park grand slam. The Trojans had now dug themselves quite a hole and trailed 11-3.
UALR allowed another run in the top of the eighth before heading into the bottom half of the inning. After Scott led off the bottom half by getting hit by a pitch, Rockwell singled to right field where the fielder made an error and allowed Rockwell to advance to third. Scott was able to score on the play from first, giving UALR its fourth run of the game.
That was all the Trojans could muster as Missouri State added another five runs on six hits in the top of the ninth to put the game completely out of reach.
“They got the big hit and we didn't,” head coach Chris Curry said. “Most of the runs they scored were off of walks. Our bullpen was unable to come in, throw strikes and keep the game close to give our hitters a chance to win the game.”
As a unit, the Trojans pitching staff gave up 15 hits, 12 walks, and only managed to record four strikeouts.
“I thought our offensive approach was very good,” Curry said. “I loved the way we attacked their left hander who was a very good pitcher on the mound. Even though the score doesn't show it at all, I continue to see some players making strides and buying in to what we're trying to do.”
With the exception of Rockwell, Scott and Kirk, UALR's offense was silent. The trio combined to rack up eight of the Trojans' nine hits for the game.
“The best medicine we need is to get back on the field on Tuesday, keep playing baseball and keep getting better,” Curry said. “There's no doubt in my mind that this thing will turn pretty quick as it's very, very early.”
UALR will look to avoid a five-game losing streak when it travels to Nacogdoches, Texas for a single game against Stephen F. Austin on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m.
