Trojans Take Down Kansas for First Win of 2016

LITTLE ROCK – In the second day of the 2016 season, Little Rock baseball (1-1) earned its first win of the year with a 4-2 victory over Kansas (0-1) on Saturday at Gary Hogan Field.
 
Newcomer Will Hazen had a strong performance on the mound as he went seven innings and picked up the win with three strikeouts while allowing just two runs, four hits and two walks in his Trojan debut.
 
Senior outfielder Ryan Scott put in some quality at-bats as he went 2 for 3 with a two-run home run and a walk.
 
"The difference between last night and tonight for me was throwing the ball over the plate and eliminating the walks," head coach Chris Curry said. "Will Hazen did an amazing job, and that's how he's pitched since he's been here. We got some timely hits and played error-free baseball. That's a recipe for a win against a good club."
 
Little Rock got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning with two runs. Kyle Kirk walked to lead off the frame and advanced to third on a double off the left-center field wall. Zach Baker then hit an RBI single to first as Kirk scored the Trojans first run. After Baker was picked off at first by Kansas' starter and 2015 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Ben Krauth, Cameron Knight delivered an RBI single to right as Gifford crossed the plate to put Little Rock up 2-0.
 
The Jayhawks retaliated in the top of the third inning. Tommy Mirabelli singled to lead off the inning. With one out, Colby Wright doubled down the left field line to place runners at second and third. After a Hazen strikeout, Matt McLaughlin singled to left and scored Mirabelli and Wright, but he would be tagged out between first and second as the inning ended in a 2-2 tie.
 
Still tied 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Hayden Martin singled to left, but was forced out at second on an attempted sacrifice bunt by Hunter Owens. With Owens on first, Scott delivered what ended up being the game-winning blow with a two-run blast over right field wall as Little Rock took a 4-2 lead.
 
After seven dominant innings by Hazen, junior Keenan Wingfield made his Trojan debut out of the bullpen with two hitless innings as he picked up the save.
 
Little Rock's win over Kansas marks the third victory over the Jayhawks all-time and is the first over the Big 12-foe since 2003. All three of the Trojans' wins against the Jayhawks have come at Gary Hogan Field. This is Little Rock's first victory over a Big 12 school since beating Oklahoma on the road in 2014.
 
Little Rock will have little time to celebrate as the Trojans close out the weekend with Indiana State (3-0) tomorrow at 1 p.m., at Gary Hogan Field.