Errors Cost Trojans in Series Finale at South Alabama

MOBILE, Ala. – A pair of fielding errors made all the difference as Little Rock baseball took a 5-3 loss to South Alabama in Sunday's series finale at Stanky Field.
 
The Trojans (17-30, 8-16 Sun Belt) were led by Zach Baker as he went 3 for 4 with an RBI and a double. Hunter Owens finished 2 for 3 with a run and a walk.
 
The Jaguars (30-18, 17-7) had three players go 2 for 4 including Matt Bolger, Drew LaBounty and Brendan Donovan. Bolger had two RBIs while LaBounty and Donovan each scored a run.
 
South Alabama's Tyler Carr (4-1) earned the win as he went 5.2 innings, struck out four and allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk. Little Rock's Chandler Fidel (2-7) took the loss as he tossed four innings, struck out three and allowed four runs (three unearned) on six hits and five walks.
 
"I thought that was the first weekend in a long time where we competed well for three games," Little Rock head coach Chris Curry said. "The difference in the game was two mistakes in the outfield, and against a good club like South Alabama, you can't give them extra runs."
 
After back-to-back leadoff singles in the first by Cale Ridling and Owens, Riley Pittman moved them over with a sacrifice bunt. Dalton Thomas then picked up the RBI on a ground out to short as Ridling scored the game's first run.
 
South Alabama struck right back in the bottom of the first with three runs on three hits. With the bases loaded and two outs, Bolger put a two-run single back up the middle. Dylan Hardy finished up the scoring with an RBI single to left center.
 
The Trojans brought the deficit down to 3-2 in the top of the third. Owens singled through the left side with two outs before stealing second. With a 3-2 count, Pittman brought Owens home on an RBI single to right.
 
The Jaguars went up by two in the bottom of the fourth. After LaBounty walked with one out, Donovan singled to right, but a fielding error allowed him to move to third as LaBounty scored the unearned run.
 
Little Rock earned a run back in the top of the sixth thanks to a pair of two-out doubles by Cameron Knight and Baker.
 
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Eddie Paparella doubled into left for South Alabama. Wells Davis then hit a fly ball into left, but a fielding error allowed Paparella to score from second.
 
After South Alabama put a runner on with a single in the bottom of the eighth, Jacob Rateliff came on for Cole Townsend with one out. After another single put runners on the corner, Justin Garica made his way out of the bullpen. In his team-leading 29th appearance, Garcia got a ground out and a strikeout to end the inning.
 
Trailing 5-3 heading to the ninth, the Trojans weren't able to get the big inning as a pop up, a ground out and a fly out ended the game.
 
"I like the way we're playing baseball right now and how the guys are getting after it," Curry said. "I think we've had great at-bats, and we're getting the chance to win on the mound."
 
Little Rock will now come home to play its final five home games of 2017. The Trojans will play their next-to-last midweek game of the season against Northwestern State on Tuesday night at Gary Hogan Field.