Box Score JONESBORO, Ark. – In an endurance test of a game, UALR baseball fell 4-3 to Arkansas State in a hard-fought 14 inning affair on Friday night.
Seniors Sam Vogel and Justin Steelmon each ended the game with three hits. Vogel's three-hit performance set a new career-high and comes off Thursday night's game in which he set a career-high with two doubles.
The Trojans took an early lead with an RBI double by Tanner Rockwell. Ryan Scott walked with one out and proceeded to take second on a passed ball. Rockwell then came through with the double to deep right center field as Scott came around to give UALR a 1-0 lead.
UALR increased its lead to 2-0 in the top of the second inning. Hayden Martin got on base with a leadoff single to left center before Justin Steelmon hit a single of his own to left field. Sam Vogel then laid down a sac bunt to move both runners into scoring position. Martin scored and Steelmon advanced to second as the Red Wolves threw a wild pitch.
Arkansas State tied UALR in the bottom of the fourth inning. Austin Baker jacked a solo shot over the right field wall with no outs to cut the deficit to 2-1. After the homer, Matt Burgess doubled down the left field line with a full count. Ty White got on base with a bunt single as Burgess advanced to third. Collin Massanelli reached on a fielder's choice and earned the RBI as Burgess scored the tying run.
The Trojans retook the lead over the Red Wolves in the top of the sixth inning. Drew Merten reached on an error by the A-State shortstop before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Martin. Merten then made his way over to third on a ground out to second base. Vogel sent a bloop single into center field, earning the RBI as Merten gave UALR a 3-2 lead.
ASU tied the game once again in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Massanelli walked on five pitches. After the Red Wolves flew out to center, Massanelli advanced to second on a wild pitch. Jeremy Brown then singled to center as Massanelli crossed the plate to tie the game at 3-3.
Rockwell moved from third base to pitch in the top of the seventh inning after starter Jarrid Garcia threw six, strong innings. Rockwell set a career-high by pitching seven innings in relief, shattering his old career-high of 2.2 innings last season. Rockwell managed to blank the Red Wolves by giving up no runs and only four hits on 114 pitches in a career performance.
"I can't say enough about the great job Jarrid Garcia and Tanner Rockwell did," head coach Chris Curry said.
After seven scoreless innings, the Trojans went to Cory Malcom out of the bullpen to begin the bottom of the 14th inning as Rockwell moved back to third base. Malcom got the first batter he faced swinging before Tanner Ring walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. On an infield ground ball, White reached base on an error to put runners on the corners with one out. The Trojans decided to intentionally walk the next batter to induce a force out. The strategy wouldn't pan out as Stuart Levy sent a deep sacrifice fly to left as Ring tagged up and scored the game winning run.
"I cannot and will not say anything negative about my team tonight," Curry said. "This game exemplifies the way we have played all year. We fought until the very last out. In 14 innings, we poured our heart out. I just can't say enough about how proud I am of my team."
Friday night's loss was especially tough for the Trojans as it eliminated UALR from competing in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament for the second straight year. UALR needed at least one win and sweeps of Texas State and ULM this weekend to stay alive, but Texas State took a 4-1 victory over UT Arlington earlier in the evening.
The Trojans will wrap up the2015 season and try to keep Arkansas State from advancing to the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Saturday's season finale at 1 p.m. in Jonesboro.
