Trojans Shut Down Mavericks, Taking Series Opener 5-1

LITTLE ROCK - Little Rock earned a big 5-1 win against UT Arlington Friday evening, claim the first game of the weekend series at Gary Hogan Field. The win improves Little Rock to 12-9 on the year and 3-1 in Sun Belt Conference play as the Trojans have now won six of their last seven games.
 
Timely hitting and strong pitching was the story of the game for Little Rock, led by starter Chandler Fidel earning the win and improving to 3-2 on the year. Fidel was a force on the mound, going seven innings with nine strikeouts, allowing just one run on six hits on 102 pitches.
 
The middle of the order of Troy Alexander, Kale Emshoff and Chase Coker gave UT Arlington pitching headaches all evening, registering a combined 10 hits, including three extra base hits.
 
Emshoff led the way going 4-for-5 at the plate with two doubles and an RBI. Alexander went 3-for-5 and scored three times himself while Coker also went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored.
 
The lone blemish on Fidel's stat line came in the second when he allowed a solo home run to UT Arlington's Omar Salinas as the Trojans fell in a 1-0 hole early.
 
That deficit was quickly squelched with a three-run second as Alexander and Emshoff hit back-to-back doubles to lead off the inning. Coker then singled to drive in Alexander, followed by another single from Nick Perez to load the bases.
 
James Gann delivered a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Emshoff, followed by an RBI bunt single by Christian Reyes as Little Rock scored three runs off five hits, forcing Maverick starter Brad Vassar out of the game after just 2.1 innings pitched.
 
An RBI single by Coker in the bottom of the third scored Alexander once again following back-to-back-to-back singles from Alexander, Emshoff and Coker. Little Rock would take the 4-1 lead into the eighth when an Emshoff double scored Alexander once again, adding an insurance run for the Trojans.
 
Donavin Buck took over for Fidel in the eight, setting up Justin Garcia in the ninth. The duo retired all six Maverick batters they faced, striking out a pair.
 
Little Rock continues to be tough defensively as the Trojans have allowed two or fewer runs in each of the last six games, limiting their opponents to just seven runs during that span. Little Rock held UT Arlington to just six hits Friday, striking out 11 Mavericks.
 
Play resumes tomorrow for game two of the series as Cole Townsend is scheduled to throw for Little Rock. First pitch will be at 2 p.m. at Gary Hogan Field.
 
#LittleRocksTeam