Little Rock Completes Sweep of Texas State

SAN MARCOS, Texas – Little Rock baseball (18-17, 11-7 Sun Belt) broke out the brooms on Saturday afternoon as it completed the three-game sweep of Texas State (21-16, 9-6) by a score of 7-6.
 
Little Rock's 11-7 Sun Belt start is now the best in program history. Saturday's win also moved the Trojans into sole possession of third place in the Sun Belt Conference standings.
 
The Trojans' sweep of the Bobcats is their first on the road against a conference opponent since taking all three games against Arkansas State in Jonesboro in 2008.
 
Keegan Meyn had a great day at the plate as he went 2 for 4 with four RBIs and a home run. Dalton Thomas earned his sixth three-hit game of the season with a 3 for 5 day. The third Trojan with multiple hits was Zach Baker as he went 2 for 4 with two runs.
 
After a scoreless first inning, Little Rock came out swinging in the second. Cameron Knight doubled to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a single to left by Baker. A four-pitch walk by Kirk then loaded the bases. Meyn broke the tie with an RBI single through the left side. Hayden Martin reached on a fielder's choice as Baker scored the Trojans' second run. Hunter Owens then hit a two-run single as Kirk and Martin scored to give the Trojans a 4-0 lead.
 
The Trojans continued the offensive assault in the third inning. With runners on first and second, Meyn earned his first-career home run with a three-run shot to left to up Little Rock's lead to 7-0 over Texas State.
 
Texas State finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning. With runners on the corners, Jonathan Ortega hit an RBI single to score the Bobcats' first run. With runners in scoring position, Ryan Newman hit a sacrifice fly to left to plate Texas State's second run.
 
Trojan starter Cory Malcom (3-3) went 5.0 innings with four strikeouts while allowing two runs on six hits. He was relieved by Joe Corbett to begin the bottom of the sixth inning.
 
With bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth, Corbett was relieved by Keenan Wingfield. Texas State's Luke Sherley walked to make it a 7-3 game. A bases-loaded passed ball brought the runner home from third for the Bobcat's fourth run of the game. A wild pitch to the backstop then brought home another run and made it a two-run game. Cody Daylor then came on to stop the bleeding and got a fly to right.
 
With a 7-5 lead entering the bottom of the ninth, Little Rock got off to a rocky start as it allowed a walk and a single to center. With runners on the corners, Tanner Hill hit an RBI single to bring Texas State within a run. A sacrifice bunt moved runners into scoring position with one out. The play of the inning occurred on a fielder's choice play at the plate. Baker fielded a grounder at short and threw it home in time as Knight made the out in a collision play at the plate. A fly out to center ended the Bobcats' chances and gave Little Rock the series sweep as Daylor earned his second save.
 
"We're not a blue chip, high draft pick team," head coach Chris Curry said. "We're just a bunch of dirt bags who try to play really hard. I believe that culture is starting to set in, but we have a lot to learn. These guys are tough. They fight, and that tells me we're going to have a chance."
 
Little Rock returns home for a midweek game with Stephen F. Austin on Tuesday night at 6 p.m., at Gary Hogan Field.