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Box Score 2 LITTLE ROCK – The UALR baseball team shut out SIU-Edwardsville by scores of 2-0 and 7-0 in a doubleheader at Gary Hogan Field on Saturday.
Senior Sam Vogel was the offensive player of the day with one homer, one double, five RBIs and two runs in six at-bats.
The Trojans' pitchers struck out 20 batters and gave up just eight hits between the two games against the Cougars.
“The thing that sticks out from today is going 18 scoreless innings on the mound,” head coach Chris Curry said. “It doesn't matter who you're playing, that's impressive anytime you're putting up zeroes on the mound. That's a big lift mentally. I just think we were ready to go today and I'm proud of our club. It's hard to beat anyone in Division I baseball twice in a doubleheader.”
In the second game of the day, UALR kept the runs coming as the Trojans scored two in the first inning. Senior Petr Sila struck out, but reached first on a wild pitch. Senior Sam Vogel then came to the plate and doubled to right center, scoring Sila from first. After Vogel advanced to third on a sac fly by Ryan Scott, junior Kyle Kirk hit an RBI single to center to bring home Vogel.
Starting pitcher Sam Thoele ended the first inning with two strike outs after catching the Cougars' batters swinging and looking. Thoele put up three more strikeouts in the third, with one reaching on a passed ball.
UALR set themselves up for another run in the bottom of the third inning after Sila once again singled. With Vogel back at the plate, Sila stole second. After Vogel struck out, Ryan Scott was intentionally walked to put runners at first and second with one out. After another fly out, Kirk once again put one through to center, bringing home Sila and earning his second RBI of the game.
The Trojans' had a monster inning in the fourth. After Drew Merten was hit by a pitch and Mitchell Scheuler reached first on a dropped third strike, the two runners successfully pulled off a double steal. Two batters later, Vogel came up with the Trojans' first home run of the season, sending a three-run shot over the left field wall. The inning wasn't over just yet as Scott launched a solo shot over the right field wall to give UALR back-to-back home runs.
“Sam Vogel crushed it,” said Curry. “Any ball that hits the top of the wall is hit hard. Then Ryan Scott has as much power as anyone in the ball park. What a coming-out party he's having.”
Senior Dyllon Brownmiller took over for Thoele in the sixth and was lights out the rest of the way. Brownmiller struck out six, gave up one hit and earned the save in four innings of relief. Thoele earned his first win of the year in five innings on the mound with five strikeouts, giving up just two hits.
“What a great job Brownmiller did,” said Curry. “Pitching with a lead, sometimes there's a let up. Dyllon Brownmiller is a captain, and he's a captain for a reason.”
The story was much of the same in the first game of the doubleheader. Sophomore Cory Malcom got the start and struck out the first two batters to begin the game.
In the second inning, senior Tanner Rockwell was hit by a pitch, extending his on-base streak to 18 games. Junior James Gillean singled through the right side, advancing Rockwell to third. After Gillean stole second, freshman Kyle Barret picked up the RBI after scoring Rockwell from third on a ground out to second.
The game remained quiet until the sixth inning when UALR finally put their second run on the board. Sila led off with a single to left, but soon advanced to third after the pitcher made an error on a pick-off attempt to first. Vogel came through with an RBI sac fly to right field, scoring Sila. After the score, Scott tripled to right field, forcing an SIUE pitching change. Two straight ground outs ended the inning with Scott left on third.
Senior Cameron Allen took over on the mound in the eighth after Malcom pitched seven fantastic innings. Malcom left the game with five strikeouts and gave up just three hits and three walks on 109 pitches. Allen struck out four and gave up two hits as he closed the door on the Cougars, picking up his second career save.
“I think that Allen-Malcom combination can be pretty tough on folks,” said Curry.
After all was said and done, Sila ended the day with four hits and three runs in nine at-bats while Kirk got three hits and two RBIs in seven at-bats.
Scott kept his hot streak going with a homer, a triple, one RBI and a run in five at-bats while also walking twice.
UALR will go for the series sweep against SIU-Edwardsville tomorrow at Gary Hogan Field with the first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m.
