UCA Takes First Game of Rock 'n' Roar Rivalry Over LR

CONWAY, Ark. – Four consecutive innings with at least one run scored allowed Central Arkansas to power past Little Rock baseball by a score of 12-3 on Tuesday evening at Bear Stadium.
 
Hunter Owens went 2 for 4 with a run scored. It was the ninth game of the season in which he had recorded multiple hits. Zach Baker went 1 for 2 with two walks while Riley Pittman tallied two RBIs as he went 1 for 4. Cameron Knight went 1 for 4 with one RBI and a run, and Dalton Thomas advanced his reached-base streak to 17 games as he went 1 for 3 with a double.
 
Little Rock (7-10) got on the board right out of the gate with one run on three hits. After Baker got on with a leadoff single, Thomas was hit by a pitch with one out. A single by Owens loaded the bases for Knight who delivered an RBI single to center. That was all the Trojans put across as a 4-6-3 double play concluded the frame.
 
UCA (7-11) took a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the second with four runs on three hits and two errors. With runners on the corners, Rigo Aguilar scored as Ty Tice reached on a fielder's choice and William Hancock got to second safely on an error. After a sac bunt moved runners into scoring position, Brooks Balisterri hit an RBI single through the right side. Michael Haun then tallied two RBIs with a bases-clearing triple to right center. Central Arkansas' final run came as Keaton Presley hit an RBI single up the middle.
 
The Bears made it a five-run lead in the bottom of the third. With runners on the corners, Hancock hit a sac fly to right to score Hunter Strong. UCA made it 9-1 in the bottom of the fourth with three runs on two hits. Strong and Hancock each hit RBI singles while Eddie Sanchez walked home.
 
For the fourth consecutive inning, UCA added some runs to the scoreboard. A sacrifice fly by Jansen McCurdy, an RBI double to left by Hancock and an RBI single through the left side by Hancock made it 12-1.
 
The Trojans finally responded in the top of the sixth. After Owens singled through the left side, Knight put the Trojans into scoring position with a fielding error by the Bears' left fielder. Pittman then singled up the middle to score both runners and cut Little Rock's deficit to 12-3.
 
Although Little Rock didn't allow another run for the rest of the game, the Trojans' offense was held in check as it only mustered one hit over the final three innings.
 
UCA starter Will Brand (2-1) picked up the win with a seven-inning performance in which he struck out five and allowed three runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks. Little Rock starter Matt McDowell (0-5) got the loss in 1.1 innings of work.
 
"You have to earn the right to win a baseball game, and right now, we're not doing that," head coach Chris Curry said. "We popped up a bunt, didn't get the leadoff man out via the walk and grounded into a double play with bases loaded. The bottom line is there has to be more accountability in this program from inside the locker room and our leadership."
 
Little Rock will return home to Gary Hogan Field this weekend to begin Sun Belt Conference play against Troy. The series will open up on Friday at 6 p.m.