Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – UALR baseball (6-9, 3-2) took a 10-3 loss at Missouri State (11-6, 0-0) on Tuesday afternoon.
The Trojans had multiple chances to score runs early in the game, but mistakes prevented UALR from doing so.
“The story of today is poor execution on our part,” head coach Chris Curry said. “We had bases loaded early and hit into a double play, which we actually did twice today. We had a check-swing strikeout with the bases loaded, we were picked off at first when were down three runs and we had eight walks. That's a recipe for losing a baseball game. I don't believe the score indicates how that game could have gone. We did not execute well at all.”
Petr Sila hit a leadoff single to center to begin the game for the Trojans. Jason Prevatt then drew a walk to put runners at first and second. Ryan Scott was then hit by a pitch to load the bases for UALR. The Trojans then grounded into a double play, but Sila scored from third to give UALR an early 1-0 lead.
The Trojans got on the board once again in the second inning as Ryan McSwain drew a walk to lead off the inning. McSwain then took second for his first-career stolen base. With one out, Hayden Martin got a single through the left side to put runners on the corners. Kyle Barret walked on four pitches to load the bases for the Trojans. Sila then hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring McSwain from third to take a 2-0 lead.
Missouri State evened the game in the second inning. The Bears got on with a walk with one out, and then doubled to right center to put runners at second and third. Missouri State grounded out to second base, but a run was able to cross the plate. The Bears then got another double down the left field line to tie the game at 2-2.
Missouri State kept the runs coming in the third after getting its third double of the game, scoring a runner from first to take a 3-2 lead. A sac fly to deep right then scored another run as the Bears took a 4-2 lead.
The Trojans got back on track in the fifth inning, scoring one run. Barret led off the inning with his first-career hit and advanced to second after a bunt single by Sila. Prevatt was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. UALR grounded into a double play, but Barret scored from third to cut the deficit to 4-3.
Missouri State singled to center to lead off the bottom of the fifth. A double to left center to brought home the runner from first while the batter advanced to third on the throw. A single to left center brought home another run to give Missouri State a 6-3 lead.
Starter Chad Bradford saw 1.2 innngs on the mound and gave up two runs and two hits before he was relieved by Reed Willenborg. Willenborg lasted 1.1 innings, giving up two runs and one hit before Stephen Chandler came on in relief. Chandler pitched 1.2 innings and gave up two runs on five hits.
In the bottom of the fifth with two outs, freshman Preston Oberling made his fourth appearance of the season, sitting down six straight batters before giving up a hit. After the hit, Oberling recorded the Trojans' first strikeout of the day to end the seventh inning.
With one out in the eighth inning and bases loaded, Dyllon Brownmiller came on as the Trojans' final reliever. Missouri State crossed the plate four more times on two hits to take a 10-3 lead heading into the ninth.
With one out in the ninth, UALR singled twice, but a fielder's choice and a strikeout left two Trojan runners on base to end the game.
Kyle Barret was the Trojans' main offensive threat, going 3 for 3 with a run and a walk. Petr Sila and Hayden Martin each went 2 for 4 with Sila gaining an RBI and a run.
“Preston Oberling threw the ball really well, and I thought Kyle Barret had an outstanding day,” Curry said. “It was eye opening with three hits. Beyond that, we just did a lot of things to give the opposing team the opportunity to score some runs, and they did to their credit,” Curry said. “We have to close the gap between our midweek and weekend games because we are Jekyll and Hyde. If we want to be a championship club, we have to find that consistency from game to game.”
UALR returns home for another midweek game on Wednesday as it faces Louisiana Tech at 6 p.m. at Gary Hogan Field.
