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Box Score 2 LITTLE ROCK – UALR (6-8, 3-2) baseball swept Louisiana (10-7, 3-2) by scores of 5-4 and 7-6 with a pair of walk-off hits in a shortened two-game conference series on Sunday.
Although the series was shortened to two games due to rain and field conditions, this is the Trojans' first season sweep of the Ragin' Cajuns since they last did it in 2000 at Gary Hogan Field.
“I cannot say enough about this team and the fight they have,” head coach Chris Curry said. “Again, I go back to the very first thing I told them in our team meeting which is they had been through a lot. Their resiliency, toughness, and willingness to keep coming back are unbelievable. That's what got us today's wins. There's a saying that to be the best, you have to beat the best, and the Ragin' Cajuns are the reigning champions of our league. So we challenged our guys to get after it today and we needed their best.”
In the first game of the doubleheader, Louisiana struck first by scoring three runs in the third inning. UALR struck right back in the bottom of the inning as Petr Sila reached on a fielder's choice and was followed up by a single through the right side by Jason Prevatt. With runners on first and second with two outs, Tanner Rockwell doubled and gained two RBIs as Prevatt and Sila scored to make it a 3-2 ballgame.
The Ragin' Cajuns gained one run in the fourth with a solo home run off the bat of Joe Robbins to increase their lead to 4-2. Starter Cory Malcom left runners on first and second to get out of the inning. Malcom pitched five innings and struck out five while giving up eight hits, four runs and two walks.
The Trojans would eventually tie the game in the sixth inning. Joseph Paulino got on base after being hit by a pitch with two outs.Freshman Ryan McSwain, starting in his second career game, then went yard with a two-run homer over the left field wall to tie the game at 4-4.
In the bottom of the ninth with the game still tied, catcher Drew Merten led off the inning by taking first after getting hit by a pitch. Sam Vogel pinch ran for Merten as Hayden Martin then hit a sac bunt to advance Vogel to second. Sila was then intentionally walked to setup the possible double play. With a 1-0 count, Prevatt was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. At 0 for 4 in the game, Ryan Scott came through when it mattered most as got a walk-off single to win the game for the Trojans.
In the second game of the day, UALR got on the board first with a pair of runs in the first inning. Sila led off the game with a bunt single to first and proceeded to steal second. With two outs, Tanner Rockwell doubled to right center, scoring Sila from second to take a 1-0 lead. Kyle Kirk reached on an error by the second baseman to put runners at first and second with two outs. Paulino got his first double of the year with a liner down the left field line, scoring Rockwell from second to take a 2-0 lead.
The Cajuns got their revenge in the top of the second by scoring three runs on three hits to take a 3-2 lead. The damage could have been worse but starter Sam Thoele managed to leave two runners on base.
Louisiana managed to add one more in the top of the fifth before UALR answered right back with a run of its own. Sila got on base by getting hit by a pitch with one out. Prevatt then singled to center and advanced Sila to third. Scott came up to the plate and hit an RBI single to right field, scoring Sila from third.
The Cajuns answered the Trojans run with another run in the top of the sixth as Kyle Clement led the inning off with a triple down the right field line. Clement eventually scored from third on a sac bunt to push Louisiana's lead to 5-3. The Cajuns added their final run of the game in the seventh inning after a doubling to center and singling up the middle to begin the inning, taking a 6-3 lead in the process.
The Trojans started their comeback in the 8th as Scott was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the inning. With a 0-2 count, Rockwell hit his first home run of the season with a two-run shot to left. The Trojans went into the ninth with a 6-5 deficit.
In the bottom of the ninth and trailing by a run, UALR went on the offensive. Sila hit a leadoff single through the left side and advanced to second after Prevatt laid down a sac bunt. Scott hit an RBI single and advanced to second on the throw while Sila scored from second. After two hits already for the game, Rockwell delivered the final blow with a walk-off single to give UALR the two-game series sweep over Louisiana.
Rockwell was the Trojans's best hitter for the day as he went 6 for 9 overall with a home run, two doubles, six RBIs, and two runs. Rockwell now has a five-game hitting streak while he has reached base in seven consecutive games.
McSwain had a great day in his second- and third-career starts as he went 3 for 7 with a home run, two RBIs and a run.
Scott continued his impressive play by going 3 for 9 overall with three RBIs and two runs. Scott extended his hitting and reached base streaks to 11 games.
“Rockwelll came alive and he's the guy we need him to be,” Curry said. “Scott continues to blister things at the plate. McSwain hit a homerun and I have to give credit to coach Roland Fanning. He's been telling me to play him for 10 games. I finally listened to him, and he was dead on.”
Relief pitchers Dyllon Brownmiller and Cameron Allen pitched in both games against the Ragin' Cajuns while also picking up the win in each. Brownmiller was hitless in 3.1 innings on the mound as he struck out one and walked two. Allen pitched 4.0 innings as he struck out four and allowed three runs and five hits.
“Thoele and Malcom weren't sharp, but they kept the game close,” Curry said. “What a wonderful job the bullpen did with Allen, Jarrid Garcia, and Brownmiller. Brownmiller took the ball and kept the game close.”
Garcia pitched 2.1 innings in the first game as he struck out one and only allowed one hit and a walk.
“I couldn't be more proud of this team,” Curry said. “We've got everything in front of us, but our next game is Tuesday. That's what we have to get after.”
The Trojans will return to action on Tuesday in Springfield, Mo., at Missouri State before coming home to face Louisiana Tech on Wednesday.
