LITTLE ROCK – Little Rock picked up a pair of big Sun Belt Conference victories Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader against ULM at
Gary Hogan Field. The Trojans took the opener 7-4, then held on for a 3-2 win in the second game of the day.
The victories improve Little Rock's overall record to 19-14 on the year and 8-5 in Sun Belt Conference play, pulling a half game ahead of UT Arlington to reclaim first place in the West Division.
GAME ONE - Little Rock 7, ULM 4
Little Rock opened up a 3-0 lead on ULM, scoring one each in the first, third and fifth innings. The Trojans opened the day with
Matt Merino driving in
Danny Mitchell Jr. off a fielder's choice in the bottom of the first, followed by Merino adding to his RBI total by scoring
Chase Coker on a 4-3 putout in the third.
James Gann then extended Little Rock's lead in the fifth, taking a 3-2 count over the left field wall for his second round tripper of the year.
ULM pulled even in the top of the sixth, knocking a pair of home runs to tie the game at 3-3, but that was quickly answered in the bottom half of the inning as a
Marcus Ragan fielder's choice scored
Kale Emshoff, putting the Trojans back in front 4-3.
Gann then made his presence felt once again in the bottom of the eighth, blasting a three-run home run over the right field wall for his first career multi-homer game, scoring
Nick Perez and
Ryan Benavidez to give Little Rock the comfortable 7-3 lead.
ULM threatened in the top of the ninth, loading the bases with one out, but the Warhawks were only able to muster one run off the threat as Little Rock took the opener 7-4.
The Trojans' seven runs came on just three hits as Little Rock was aided by three ULM errors. Two of those hits came in the form of Gann's home runs with Merino adding the other.
Starter
Chandler Fidel notched the win, going 6.1 innings and allowing three runs off six hits with five strikeouts, improving to 5-2 on the year.
Donavin Buck retired five of his six batters faced in 1.2 innings while
Justin Garcia pitched the ninth to close the door on the Warhawks.
GAME TWO - Little Rock 3, ULM 2
Similar to the opening game of the day, Little Rock raced out to an early lead, then held off a late Warhawk rally. The scoring began in the bottom of the first as on a steal attempt to third for Merino, the pickoff attempt by the ULM pitcher sailed high, allowing him to race home for the first run of the game.
Gann continued his hot bat with an RBI single in the bottom of the second, scoring Emshoff and giving Little Rock the 2-0 lead. ULM answered with one in the top of the third off a sacrifice fly, which was answered in the bottom half of the inning by
Marcus Ragan scoring on a throwing error, fitting for a bizarre inning in which three-straight Trojans reached on ULM errors.
The Warhawks responded with a run in the top of the fifth, trimming the Trojan lead to 3-2, but then freshman
Hayden Arnold took over. Arnold held ULM without a hit for the final 4.1 innings, walking one and striking out a career-high seven, earning the win for the Trojans.
Starter
Pablo Ortiz fell just shy of earning the win, lasting 4.2 innings and allowing two runs on four hits with a pair of strikeouts for Little Rock.
Six different Trojans registered the six hits in the nightcap with Ragan, Coker, Merino, Emshoff, Benavidez and Gann scattering them throughout the night. Defensively, Little Rock forced ULM to leave 18 runners on base over the two-game stretch, including a pair in the top of the ninth in game two as Arnold ended the game with his seventh strikeout.
With the series win secure, Little Rock now goes for the series sweep Sunday afternoon as the Trojans and Warhawks will meet at 1 p.m. at
Gary Hogan Field.
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