LITTLE ROCK - Little Rock came from behind late to defeat UT Arlington 5-4 Sunday afternoon at
Gary Hogan Field. The Trojans improve their record to 13-10 on the year while taking over first place in the Sun Belt West at 4-2, registering their third series win in row.
The comeback started in the fourth with the Trojans trailing the Mavericks 3-0. Singles by
Troy Alexander and
Chase Coker and a walk for
Nick Perez loaded the bases for
James Gann, who brought them all home with a three RBI double to left, knotting the game at 3-3.
Fast forward to the eighth inning with the Trojans down one after the Mavericks put a run on the board in the sixth.
Matt Merino ripped his fifth home run of the year, a single shot to left, tying the game at 4-4.
Kale Emshoff then delivered with his ninth double of the year with two outs, advancing to third on a wild pitch. Coker then knocked a single up the middle, scoring Emshoff and putting the Trojans on top 5-4.
That was all
Justin Garcia needed as he sent the Mavericks down in order in the top of the ninth, registering a pair of strikeouts to get the win. Garcia faced the minimum amount of batters after retiring them in order in eighth and ninth inning while tallying three strikeouts. He improves his record to 2-1 on the year while upping his strikeout total to 46.
Ethan Daily started the game for the Trojans and last 3.0 innings, allowing three runs off of six hits and two walks. He was able to pick up four strikeouts.
Hayden Arnold and
Donavin Buck came out of the bullpen to pitch four innings, holding UTA to one run on four hits before Garcia entered the game in the eighth.
Coker and Alexander led the Trojans with a pair of hits on the day as Coker was 2-for-3 with the game-winning RBI while Alexander was 2-for-4 with a run scored. The two continue to pace the Trojans at the plate with Alexander batting .387 and Coker right behind at .371.
The home run by Merino was his fifth on the year and gave him home runs in back-to-back games for the second time this year after he hit home runs in three straight games a few weeks back. Gann ended 1-for-3 after knocking in the three RBIs in the fourth, giving him five for the series.
Little Rock picked up its first-ever series win over UT Arlington, taking two of three from the Mavericks, while notching its third-straight series win on the year after series victories over Memphis and Troy.
Little Rock will round out their four game home stand with a midweek game against Oral Roberts on March 27 with first pitch at 6 p.m. at
Gary Hogan Field.
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