Little Rock Sweeps Troy, Earns Sixth Straight Win

LITTLE ROCK – Little Rock baseball (12-11, 5-4 Sun Belt) broke out the brooms as it picked up the three-game sweep of Troy (13-12, 3-6) and won its sixth straight game with a narrow 10-9 win on Saturday afternoon at Gary Hogan Field.
 
Saturday marked the fourth straight game that Little Rock overcame a first-inning deficit to take the win. Little Rock's winning streak of six games is its most since 2012.
 
The nation's leading hitter, Ryan Scott, had a great day at the plate as he went 2 for 5 with four RBIs and run.
 
Dalton Thomas extended his hitting streak to 19 games, the longest for Little Rock since at least 1998, as he went 2 for 5 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs.
 
Also picking up two hits for the day were Hunter Owens, Cameron Knight and Hayden Martin. Knight picked up two RBIs and scored a run while Martin had an RBI and a run.
 
"This club is a blast to be in the dugout with right now," head coach Chris Curry said. "Offensively, I think we're very confident, and our guys really don't care what the score is. Our team believes that we're never out of it, and they're going to play hard until the end."
 
Little Rock fell into an early hole as it gave up three runs on five hits in the very first inning. Three of Troy's five hit were doubles.
 
Little Rock fired back in the bottom of the first. With Thomas and Gifford on base, Knight hit a two-run double down the left field line to cut the deficit to 3-2.
 
Troy had its biggest inning of the afternoon in the top of the second. With a runner on second, Joey Denison hit Troy's fourth double of the afternoon to plate another run. After starter Joe Corbett hit a batter, his day came to a very early end as Reed Willenborg came on to pitch. Cameron Sanders welcomed Willenborg with Troy's fifth double as it plated two more runs. Sanders continued to move around the bases as advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch to give Troy a big 7-2 lead.
 
However, Little Rock wasn't about to roll over. With two outs, Hayden Martin jumpstarted Little Rock with a single through the right side. After Owens walked, Scott doubled down the right field line to score Owens and Martin. Thomas then cleared the bases with a two-run blast to left to put Little Rock within a run at 7-6.
 
Little Rock finally broke through and went ahead in the bottom of the third. Knight singled to lead off the frame, then Matt McDowell doubled to right center to put runners in scoring position. After Kyle Kirk reached on a fielder's choice, Troy starter Evan Hebert's day came to an end as he was relieved by Corey Childress (1-2). Childress was able to get the first Little Rock batter he faced looking, but a sacrifice fly to left by Hayden Martin scored Knight to even the game at 7-7. Little Rock wasn't finished yet as Owens then singled to load the bases once more. A clutch two-RBI single by Scott pushed Little Rock out front at 9-7.
 
Troy tied the game in the top of the seventh after Cody Daylor had come on to pitch for Little Rock in the sixth inning with two outs. With one out, Troy's Trevor Davis doubled to left center. After the double, Sanders grounded out to Daylor for the second out. After Daylor issued a walk, Jarrid Garcia (1-1) entered the game. Brody Binder pinch hit for brother T.J. Binder and hit a two-run double to left center to knot the game at 9-9.
 
Little Rock responded with the go-ahead run in the bottom of the inning. Gifford got on with a leadoff double to center and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Knight. After McDowell struck out, Kirk walked to put runners on the corners with two outs. Zach Baker came through with the RBI single through the left side to put Little Rock up 10-9.
 
Keenan Wingfield entered the game in the top of the eighth and was lights out. 20 pitches in two innings with three strikeouts and nothing against earned him his second save of the season and gave Little Rock the sweep of Troy.
 
Little Rock returns to Gary Hogan Field on Tuesday as it faces the Oklahoma Sooners at 6 p.m.