LITTLE ROCK - Little Rock rallied from an early 4-0 deficit to take a 5-4 lead after six innings Friday night. But two Northwestern State runs in the top of the eighth paced the Demons to the 6-5 victory at
Gary Hogan Field.
After the Demons plated three runs in the second and another in the third, Little Rock was able to cool off the Northwestern State bats, beginning its rally in the bottom of the fifth off a sacrifice fly from Eldridge Figueroa, scoring
Nick Perez to get the Trojans on the board.
Little Rock then burst out for four runs in the home half of the sixth, beginning the inning with three singles and a hit-by-pitch, leading to a two RBI single from
Troy Alexander to pull the Trojans to within one at 4-3. A single from
Kale Emshoff scored
Matt Merino to tie the game, then Alexander escaped from a pickle between third and home when a Demon error allowed him to score, putting the Trojans on top 5-4.
With the lead, Perez came on and shut down Northwestern State in the seventh, stranding runners on first and third. In the eighth, however, the Demons hit a leadoff double and followed it up with a bunt single, leading to a sacrifice bunt to plate the game-tying run. Northwestern State got the go-ahead run off a single through the left side as
Ryan Benavidez' throw home was not in time.
Little Rock staged one final rally in the bottom of the ninth as Emshoff hit a towering opposite field shot to right, but a leaping grab into the wall stole a potential leadoff double from him. That all but ended the threat as the Trojans went down in order to close the game.
Alexander upped his RBI total to 13 on the season, finishing 1-for-4 at the plate while also getting one run. Emshoff lead the Trojans in batting going 2-for-4 at the plate as he continues to post the highest average on the team, hitting.438.
Perez was credited with the loss on the evening, pushing his record to 1-1 as he gave up two earned runs off of three hits and one walk. Starter
Carter Brown lasted only two innings, giving up three runs off of two hits and one walk while hitting two batters.
Justin Garcia added to his strikeout total with two more tonight in his 0.2 innings pitched. His season total is now at 25 which currently slides him into a tie for second nationally.
The Trojans will take on the Demons tomorrow for game two of the series with the first pitch at 2 p.m. at
Gary Hogan Field. It is Food Truck Saturday so the first 250 students get vouchers for the food truck vendors.
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