Emshoff, Trojans Walk-Off Louisiana Tech in 12

LITTLE ROCK - Kale Emshoff delivered a walk-off single to score Troy Alexander in the 12th inning to give the Trojans a 2-1 victory over Louisiana Tech Tuesday at Gary Hogan Field.
 
The win was the third-straight for the Trojans, who improved to 9-8 on the season and 4-3 at home in 2018. Little Rock also improves to 2-1 in extra inning games on the year.
 
It took until the ninth inning for a run to be put on the board in a great pitching duel between the Trojans and Bulldogs. Louisiana Tech struck first, plating one in the top of the ninth after a leadoff triple was brought in on a sacrifice fly to Marcus Ragan in center. Ragan nearly got the throw home to save the run but Emshoff's tag came just after Dalton Skelton's hand touched the plate.
 
Down to its last out in the bottom of the ninth, the Trojans answered with Ragan getting on second with two outs off of a single and a stolen base – the first runner Little Rock had in scoring position all game. Riley Pittman stepped up to the plate and with a full count delivered a single over the second baseman's head to send the game into extra innings.
 
Louisiana Tech threatened in the top of the 12th, putting runners at the corners with two outs, but Nick Perez slammed the door on the Bulldogs, earning the victory for the Trojans. That sent the game into the bottom of the 12th where Alexander led off with his team-best eighth double of the season, setting up the walk-off from Emshoff.
 
The Trojan bats struggled through most of the game as Louisiana Tech's starter, David Leal retired 20 batter's in a row, throwing just 94 pitches in nine innings and allowing just three Trojan hits. But the Trojan pitching staff came up big as well, holding the Bulldogs to just the one run on four hits.
 
For Little Rock, starter Ethan Daily got the no decision on the mound through four and a third innings giving up no runs, two hits and striking out four. Justin Garcia went 2.2 innings and pitched the Trojans out of a jam in the eighth, allowing one hit while added to his strikeout with four, upping his season total to 35.
 
Perez had the hot bat for the Trojans as well, going 2-for-4 on the afternoon while Ragan, Pittman, Alexander and Emshoff added the other six hits for Little Rock.
 
Little Rock now opens Sun Belt Conference play this weekend in Troy, Alabama with a three-series against Troy starting on Friday at 6 p.m. at Ripple-Pace Field. Play will continue with game two on Saturday at 3 p.m. followed by a game three on Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
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