Trojans Blank Purdue for First Win of 2017

LITTLE ROCK – Little Rock baseball blanked Purdue (3-3) by a score of 2-0 to earn its first win of the 2017 season on Saturday afternoon at Gary Hogan Field.
 
The Trojans (1-5) earned another impressive performance out of starting pitcher Cory Malcom (1-0) as he earned the win while tying his career high for strikeouts with 11. Malcom had 110 pitches in seven innings of work and only allowed five hits and a walk. This was the second consecutive double-digit strikeout performance by Malcom as he tallied 11 in his last start at Oral Roberts. The last Trojan pitcher to record at least 10 strikeouts in consecutive starts was Chance Cleveland in 2012.
 
"This is why we love Cory pitching on Saturday," head coach Chris Curry said. "He's such a bulldog and pitches with toughness. He's consistent, and that's what you want to see out of a senior. You want to be able to count on them and know what you're going to get every time out."
 
Cameron Knight earned his second straight multi-hit game as he went 2 for 4 with a run. Christian Reyes earned his first career hit and had an RBI for the Trojans as he went 1 for 2. Zach Baker had the other multiple-hit performance as he went 2 for 2 while also being hit by a pitch.
 
With no score through the top of the fifth, that changed in the bottom of the inning. With runners on the corners and one out, Reyes earned his first career hit on an RBI to right field. This allowed Knight to score and put Little Rock up 1-0.
 
The only other run of the game came in the bottom of the seventh. Purdue starter Gareth Stroh (0-1) exited the game to begin the frame as Mike Kornacker came on in relief. With the bases juiced and one out, Bryce Dimitroff picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice as Danny Mitchell Jr. scored to put the Trojans up 2-0.
 
Left-hander Dylan Slayton entered the game for Malcom to begin the eighth. After he earned two outs, Ryan LeMoine came on to face the right-handed batter. LeMoine got the Trojans out of the inning with a ground out to second.
 
Still up 2-0 entering the ninth, Joe Corbett came on to close for Little Rock, and he didn't disappoint. The sophomore right-hander picked up his first save as he struck out the side.
 
"I'm just really proud of the team for persevering and not giving up," Curry said. "That's what we've been talking to them about."
 
Little Rock will go for the series win in the rubber game with Purdue on Sunday at 1 p.m.