LR Wins Series in Comeback Victory Over TXST

LITTLE ROCK – Down 5-1, Little Rock baseball (12-20, 5-7 Sun Belt) scored five unanswered runs to earn its first Sun Belt series victory of 2017 with a 6-5 win over Texas State (20-13, 7-5) on Sunday afternoon at Gary Hogan Field.
 
The Trojans' series win was the fourth consecutive against the Bobcats. Until today, Little Rock had never won more than three straight series against a Sun Belt opponent.
 
"I could not be more proud of these guys and the fight they continue to show," head coach Chris Curry said. "The first half of the season didn't go our way, much to our fault, but you just saw how much they still believe and believe in each other. We keep challenging them to bring it every day."
 
Zach Baker had the biggest day of anyone as the senior went 3 for 4 with two home runs and three RBIs. Baker was the first Trojan to hit two home runs in a game since Ryan Scott last year at Louisiana. Jonathan Davis went 2 for 4 with a couple of RBIs and a run. Ty Gunter was 1 for 3 with an RBI and was hit by a pitch.
 
Trojan reliever Dylan Slayton (3-1) earned the win in 2.2 innings of work as he struck out three and allowed four hits and two walks. Starter Chandler Fidel took the no-decision as he went six innings, struck out six and allowed three runs on five hits and three walks. Bobcat reliever Blake Walden (5-1) picked up his first loss of the season after giving up three runs (one earned) on one hit and three walks. Texas State starter Nicholas Fraze went 6.1 innings, struck out four and allowed three runs on six hits and two walks.
 
The Bobcats' Teddy Hoffman was a perfect 4 for 4 with a home run. Ryan Newman was the only other Texas State player with multiple hits as he went 2 for 5 with a couple of RBIs and a run.
 
For the third consecutive game of the series, Texas State scored a run in the very first inning. After Luke Sherley doubled and stole third with one out, Newman hit an RBI single up the middle.
 
The Trojans knotted the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second with Baker's fourth home run of the season winding up over the left field wall.
 
The Bobcats got some help from Little Rock in the top of the third as the Trojans allowed a bases-loaded walk to Mickey Scott with two outs.
 
Texas State went up 3-1 in the top of the fifth inning as Hoffman sent a 3-1 pitch over the left-center field wall.
 
The Bobcats furthered their lead in the top of the seventh with a couple of runs on two hits. After Sherley walked with one out, Newman hit an RBI double to left center. With runners on the corners, Jaylen Hubbard reached on fielder's choice as Newman scored what ended up being Texas State's final run.
 
The Trojans' comeback bid began in the bottom of the seventh. With one on and one out, Baker belted his second homer of the day and fifth of the season over the left field wall.
 
Down 5-3 entering the bottom of the eighth, a one-out double by Cameron Knight put runners on first and second. Davis then came through as he delivered a two-run single up the middle to tie the game at 5-5. Danny Mitchell Jr. came on to pinch run for Davis and advanced to second as Cale Ridling walked. With two outs, Gunter singled through the left side to score Mitchell for the go-ahead run. Mitchell was originally out at home, but was then ruled safe as interference was called after he was tripped up by Hubbard at third.
 
Texas State loaded the bases in the top of the ninth with two outs as Jonathan Ortega was intentionally walked. Jared Huber then hit into a fielder's choice as Baker tossed the ball to Gifford at second for the final out.
 
"It's really gratifying for the players because they work so hard, and they're playing hard," Curry said. "Finally, it's starting to come to them a little bit, and I hope we keep it going."
 
Little Rock will wrap up its eight-game homestand against Stephen F. Austin on Tuesday at 6 p.m., before heading to UT Arlington for a three-game series beginning on Thursday.