Trojans Even Series With Five-Run Win Over Bobcats

LITTLE ROCK – Driven by three three-run innings, Little Rock baseball evened the series against Texas State with a 9-4 victory on Saturday afternoon at Gary Hogan Field.
 
The Trojans (11-20, 4-7 Sun Belt) tallied 13 hits while the Bobcats (20-12, 7-4) had seven. Little Rock was able to rack up 22 total bases for the day as six of its 13 hits were extra-base knocks.
 
Nik Gifford tallied four RBIs as he went 2 for 4 with a home run and a double. Hunter Owens extended his reached-base streak to 13 games as he ended up 3 for 4 with three runs, an RBI and a walk. Dalton Thomas recorded his fourth straight game with multiple hits as he went 2 for 5 with two doubles, two runs and an RBI. Cameron Knight also tallied multiple hits for the afternoon as he went 2 for 5 with a triple, an RBI and a run.
 
"Once again, the team stuck to the plan of being hooked up and engaged for nine innings," head coach Chris Curry said. "That's all we've been talking about. The middle of the order did what we know they're capable of doing. Those guys are who our offense has to go around."
 
Trojan starter Ryan LeMoine (1-3) earned his first Division I win. The junior right-hander went five innings, tallied a career-high six strikeouts and allowed four runs on six hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch. Justin Garica earned his first save with a fantastic outing from the bullpen as he allowed nothing and struck out four in 3.2 innings. Texas State starter Wes Engle (2-1) was dealt his first loss of the year as he gave up nine runs on 11 hits, three walks and a hit-by-pitch while striking out eight in four innings.
 
Just like Friday, Texas State began the game with home run in the very first inning. With Jonathan Ortega on second after a walk and a failed pickoff attempt, Ryan Newman smashed one to left center to give the Bobcats a 2-0 lead.
 
Texas State's early lead was its only one of the day as Little Rock came out swinging in the bottom of the first with three runs on four hits. With Owens on second after a one-out single and a passed ball, Thomas smacked an RBI single back up the middle. After Knight singled and advanced to second on the throw home, Gifford ripped a two-run double down the right-field line to put the Trojans up 3-2.
 
After a three-run inning in the first, Little Rock repeated in the second inning with three runs on three hits. With Danny Mitchell Jr. and Zach Baker on with one away, Owens hit an RBI single to second to score Mitchell. Baker then scored from third on a wild pitch as Owens moved over to second. Knight then hit his first career triple with two outs to drive in Owens and put the Trojans up 6-2.
 
Little Rock earned the hat trick in the bottom of the fourth with its third three-run inning of the afternoon. Owens walked to begin the bottom frame before Thomas belted his second double of the day to right center. A wild pitch to the backstop scored Owens and advanced Thomas to third. The Trojans' biggest hit of the day was next as Gifford put his fourth home run of the season over the left field wall.
 
Trailing 9-2 entering the fifth, the Bobcats finally put some more runs on the board after nine unanswered runs by the Trojans. Newman hit a two-out double to right before scoring on a Theodore Hoffman single to left. After Hoffman stole second, Jaylen Hubbard hit an RBI single to left center to cut the deficit to five.
 
Garcia came on for Trojan reliever Dylan Slayton in the bottom of the sixth with bases loaded and one out. He left the bases full of Bobcats with a shallow fly out to center and a swinging strikeout. Garcia went the rest of the way and didn't allow a single baserunner over the final three innings.
 
Little Rock will go for its fourth consecutive series win against Texas State in tomorrow's noon finale at Gary Hogan Field. If the Trojans pick up the series victory, it would be the first time they've ever taken four straight series against a Sun Belt Conference opponent.
 
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