Trojans Open 2019 Season at Home Against Creighton

LITTLE ROCK- The Little Rock baseball team will open their season at home against Creighton they look to produce another successful season for the program. The Trojans will start their three-game series this Friday when they host Creighton at Gary Hogan Field.
 
The Trojans return 21 letterwinners from last year's team while only losing nine. Six starting position players will return to the lineup in 2019 to bring their leadership and experience to the diamond. On the mound, the maroon and silver bring back 11 pitchers but lose a starting pitcher and a heavily-used reliever, Justin Garcia. A solid group of 12 newcomers join the squad looking to contribute to the team.
 

Game 1: Creighton
Date	Friday, February 15, 2019
Time	3:00 p.m.
Location	Little Rock, Ark.
Field	Gary Hogan Field
Records	Little Rock (0-0) Creighton (0-0)
Watch	Little Rock All Access
Live Stats	TrojanStats.com

Chandler Fidel is slated to be the Friday starter for the Trojans, coming off a season in which he made 15 starts and posted a 6-4 record with a 4.02 ERA. The left-hander led Little Rock in innings-pitched with 96.1 and ranked fifth in the Sun Belt Conference in strikeouts with 92. Fidel will look to anchor the starting rotation for the Trojans in 2019.
 
Troy Alexander returns to the field this season as a middle-of-the-order power hitter who will mainly feature in right field for Little Rock. The senior hit .291 on the season with seven home runs and 40 RBI. Alexander will be asked to drive in runs for the Trojans and produce solid power numbers throughout the year.
 
Another mainstay in the Trojan outfield is Chase Coker, the leading hitter for Little Rock a year ago. The Batesville, Miss. native posted a .297 average and a .479 slugging percentage. Coker notched 17 multi-hit games in his junior campaign and will look to produce at the top of the order for the Trojans.
 
Riley Pittman will return as a designated hitter and first basemen for Little Rock in 2019. The senior batted .228 with five home runs a year ago and will look to make an impact in the middle of the order for the Trojans.
 
The bullpen will be led by workhorse Donavin Buck, who made 31 appearances in relief last season. Buck posted a 3.46 ERA in 52.0 innings pitched. The Brawley, Calif. native will receive most of the work load at the back end of the bullpen and will be asked to hold late leads for the Trojans.
 
At third base, Nick Perez returns as a very important piece of the Little Rock lineup. The senior started all 56 games during his junior season and also made 15 appearances on the mound. Perez notched a .242 average at the plate and ranked third on the team in RBI (30) and doubles (11). As a pitcher, Perez threw 22.2 innings with a 4.37 ERA. Perez looks to contribute in many different ways for the Trojans as his versatility makes him a very dangerous weapon.
 
Freshman Miguel Soto is one of the Trojan newcomers slated to make an immediate impact for the maroon and silver. Playing mainly shortstop, Soto will look to provide some much-needed depth to the Little Rock infield. He was named as a 2018 Rawlings Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and his skill set will be put to use early in his Trojan career.
 
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
The Trojans will host Creighton, in which the Bluejays hold a 8-6 advantage in the all-time series. The last time the two teams met in 2014, Little Rock swept Creighton in a three-game series at Gary Hogan Field. This will also be opening weekend for the Bluejays after a 2018 season where they finished 34-16.
 
Little Rock looks to improve upon a season where they finished third in the Sun Belt Conference West Division with a 28-28 record. Their season will begin on Fri, Feb. 15 at 3 p.m. when they host Creighton at Gary Hogan Field
 
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