LR Run-Rules GSU to Clinch Spot in SBC Tournament

LITTLE ROCK – A 16-1 run-rule win over Georgia State gave Little Rock baseball the series sweep and clinched a spot in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament for the second consecutive year on Sunday afternoon at Gary Hogan Field.
 
The last time Little Rock made back-to-back Sun Belt Tournament appearances was in 2000 and 2001.
 
It was a total offensive onslaught for the Trojans (21-30, 11-16 Sun Belt) as they tallied 13 hits for the day. The Panthers (20-31, 8-19) contributed to the Trojans' offensive domination as by allowing 13 walks. The last time Little Rock walked 13 times in a game was against Georgia State last year at home.
 
The Trojans' pitching staff had a much different story as it struck out six and allowed two hit-by-pitches and no walks. Chandler Fidel (3-7) earned the win after throwing five scoreless innings with four strikeouts and four hits allowed. Keenan Wingfield struck out one and allowed one run on two hits in an inning of relief while Jacob Rateliff struck out one and allowed one hit in one inning of work.
 
Zach Baker had a near-perfect afternoon as the senior went 4 for 5 with three RBIs, two runs and a double. Dalton Thomas tallied five RBIs and scored twice as he picked up his 20th double of the season and sixth home run of the year. Nik Gifford picked up two RBIs, three runs and his seventh home run of the year as he finished the day 2 for 3.
 
"Great job by our seniors today," head coach Chris Curry said. "We had senior leadership with Dalton and Zach leading the way, and Gifford had a great weekend. That's what it takes to put ourselves in a position to get into the postseason. What I really like is when these guys' backs are against the wall, they didn't run from the moment. They ran to it, and that's what we've been wanting to see all year."
 
Georgia State's Jack Thompson went 2 for 2 and was hit by a pitch. Starting pitcher Bryce Conley (2-7) took the loss as he was chased off after allowing seven runs (six earned) on three hits and four walks in just 1.1 innings.
 
The scoring began in the bottom of the first inning as the Trojans put a four spot on the board. Thomas hit a two-run double before Ty Gunter picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly error in left. An RBI ground out by Kale Emshoff rounded out the scoring.
 
Little Rock's biggest inning of the afternoon came in the bottom of the second as the Trojans tallied six runs and batted through the order for the second time in two innings. A three-run homer by Thomas, an RBI walk by Christian Reyes and a two-run single by Baker put Little Rock up 10-0.
 
After a scoreless third inning, the Trojans put up five more runs in the bottom of the fourth. An RBI single by Baker, a run by Emshoff scored on a wild pitch, an RBI single by Hunter Owens, an RBI fielder's choice by Pittman and an RBI single by Gifford gave Little Rock a 15-0 lead.
 
Georgia State's only run occurred in the top of the sixth as Cam Sperry hit an RBI double to right.
 
The Trojans scored the game's final run in the bottom of the sixth as Gifford delivered a solo shot to left and put Little Rock up by 15 once again.
 
The game was called after the top of the seventh inning due to the Sun Belt's 10-run mercy rule on travel days.
 
"It was a great weekend and a great day for the program," Curry said. "I'm happy for the guys because they've worked extremely hard, and to have the opportunity to go to the postseason in back-to-back years says a lot on where the program is headed. Hopefully this creates the expectations that we're supposed to be in the postseason every year."
 
Before heading off to the Sun Belt Tournament, Little Rock still has four important games to be played. The Trojans return to Gary Hogan Field for the final time this season on Tuesday to face Central Arkansas in the series-deciding game of this year's Rock 'n' Roar Rivalry. After that, Little Rock will travel up to Jonesboro for a crucial seed-deciding series against rival Arkansas State beginning on Thursday night.