NORMAN, Okla. – Little Rock held 11th-ranked Oklahoma in check for four innings, but the Sooners pulled away in the latter stages of the game, handing the Trojans a 13-0 loss at L. Dale Mitchell Park.
The loss drops Little Rock to 17-14 on the season as the Trojans have dropped three-straight for the first time this season.
Little Rock's pitching and defense came on strong in the opening stages, holding Oklahoma to just one hit through the first four innings. The Sooners' second hit of the game came in the fifth, but was a two-run shot to right, giving OU the 2-0 advantage.
That homer seemed to awaken the Sooner bats as Oklahoma then hit a solo shot in the sixth, leading into a six-run seventh, comprised of a pair of doubles and a three-run shot that broke the game open at 9-0. The Sooners would add four more in the eighth, extending their lead to 13-0.
Little Rock's offense remained quiet, finishing with just three hits on the night as the Trojans extended their scoreless inning streak to 22.
Marcus Ragan posted two of those hits, including a triple in the ninth inning and a single in the seventh to break up the no-hitter, with
Nick Perez adding a single in the eighth.
Eight different pitchers took to the mound for Little Rock as starter
Aaron Funk allowed no hits with a pair of strikeouts in his two innings of work, followed by
Ethan Daily matching that total with no hits and two strikeouts in 2.1 innings pitched.
Carter Brown gets credit for the loss after allowing the two-run home run in the fifth, dropping to 0-2 on the year.
Little Rock now returns home for a key Sun Belt Conference series at
Gary Hogan Field, welcoming ULM to central Arkansas for a three-game set. Game one against the Warhawks is schedule for 6 p.m. Friday, April 13, followed by game two at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 14 and the series finale at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 15.
The series against the Warhawks marks the final time Trojan fans can see their team in action at home in the month of April as Little Rock then begins an eight-game road swing.
#LittleRocksTeam
