Trojans Earn Series Win With Shutout of Purdue

LITTLE ROCK – With back-to-back shutouts, Little Rock baseball took the series against Purdue (3-4) by a score of 13-0 on Sunday afternoon at Gary Hogan Field.
 
Freshman starting pitcher Chandler Fidel (1-1) picked up the win with an electric performance on the mound for the Trojans (2-5). The right-hander struck out five and allowed only one hit, two walks and two hit-by-pitches.
 
"I couldn't be more proud of Chandler Fidel," head coach Chris Curry said. "I think you saw today what we saw all fall and spring out of him with throwing the ball downhill and commanding both sides of the plate. He had a rough start at Oral Roberts against a very good club on the road, but he got back on the horse and showed some poise today."
 
Hunter Owens led the Trojans' offense as he went 3 for 5 with three RBIs and three runs. Zach Baker was near-perfect at the plate as he went 4 for 5 with two RBIs and two runs. In his first collegiate start, Cale Ridling was 2 for 4 with an RBI. Cameron Knight was the fourth Trojan to pick up multiple hits as he went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run.
 
The scoring for Little Rock began in the very first inning. With runners on first and second and two outs, Knight hit an RBI single to left to score Danny Mitchell Jr. for the game's first run. The Trojans went up 2-0 in the second inning as Baker scored from third on a double play.
 
With bases loaded in the fourth, Ridling delivered with an RBI single to left. A one-out wild pitch allowed Baker to score and put Little Rock up 4-0. The Trojans tallied on two more runs in the fifth inning. After Dalton Thomas doubled to left to lead off the inning, Knight hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Thomas from third. Owens reached on a throwing error and proceeded to steal second. A single by Baker allowed Owens to score the Trojans' sixth run.
 
Little Rock began to break the game wide open in the seventh with three more runs on four hits. An Owens double to right center plated two runs, and another single by Baker scored Owens.
 
With one out in the eighth, Ty Gunter came on to pinch hit and earned the Trojans' first triple of the season. A Keegan Meyn double scored Gunter to give Little Rock 10 runs for the game. With the bases loaded, Owens picked up three RBIs and gave Little Rock a 13-0 lead with a double to left center.
 
Purdue had no answers for the Trojans' pitching staff as Little Rock only allowed three hits and three base-on-balls for the game. Justin Garcia, Preston Oberling and McKinley Moore each pitched an inning of relief. Garcia racked up three strikeouts while Oberling picked up one.
 
The last time Little Rock posted back-to-back shutouts was against SIU Edwardsville in 2015.
 
"I'm proud of our guys for responding," Curry said. "The scoreboard is obviously super positive, but what's even more positive is the way we came to the park today with a look in our eye and understanding its championship Sunday. We're starting to turn a rough start around, and we're believing in the plan a little more."
 
Little Rock will now turn its attention to Tuesday afternoon's midweek bout at Oklahoma. The game will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Southwest and Fox Sports College Central beginning at 3 p.m.