Little Rock Rally Falls Short in Season Opener

LITTLE ROCK - Little Rock rallied three times in its 2019 season opener, but the final attempt came up short as the Trojans dropped a 10-8 decision to Creighton at Gary Hogan Field.

Little Rock's offense had a productive outing in the first game of the season, registering 12 hits on the afternoon. That effort was paced by Christian Reyes going 3-for-5 for the Trojans, knocking in a run and scoring one of his own.

Reyes was one of five Trojans to tally multiple hits against the Bluejays as Garrett Scott and Miguel Soto both tallied a pair of hits, as well as two RBI each, in their Trojan debuts. Trace Jordan also registered two hits in his first game as a Trojan, scoring twice, with Eldrige Figueroa going 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored.

Creighton jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning before starter Chandler Fidel was able to settle the Bluejay bats over the course of the next three innings. That performance allowed Little Rock to rally, beginning with a solo home run from Ryan Benavidez in the bottom of the second to pull the Trojans to 2-1.

Little Rock took the lead in the bottom of the third off a pair of runs as the inning began with back-to-back hits by Figueroa and Reyes. After advancing, Figueroa tied the game at 2-2, racing home off a Creighton wild pitch and allowing Reyes to move to third. Scott then rocketed a double down the left field line as Reyes trotted home, putting Little Rock on top 3-2.

Creighton's bats then woke up with a four-run fifth, adding another in the sixth and one more in the seventh to build an 8-3 lead on Little Rock in the home half of the seventh. But the Trojans responded with another rally, tacking on four runs in the inning.

With two runners on, Soto reached base on a Creighton fielding error, allowing Benavidez to score to cut the deficit to 8-4. Back-to-back shots up the middle by Fiegueroa and Reyes brought Jordan home, trimming the Creighton lead to 8-5 and loading the bases with nobody out. 
After a Bluejay pitching change, a Pittman ground out brought Soto home, followed by a Scott single through the left side to plate Figueroa and pull the Trojans to within one at 8-7 with one out.

It looked as if Little Rock was poised to tie the game later in the inning as Troy Alexander sent a one-out fly ball deep into right field as Reyes tagged up on the catch. But the throw from the Creighton right fielder was right on the money and Reyes was tagged out at home, ending the Trojan threat.

Creighton added two more runs in the top of the eighth to extend its lead to 10-7, setting up one last rally for Little Rock. With two out in the bottom of the eighth, Jordan ripped a double over the head of the Bluejay center fielder, then came home off an RBI single from Soto. But that was as close as the rally came as the Trojans went down in order in the ninth to secure the win for Creighton.

Fidel took the loss for Little Rock in the season opener, giving up six runs on four hits with four strikeouts in 4.1 innings pitched. He was one of five Little Rock pitchers who combined for 11 strikeouts on the afternoon, capped by Ethan Daily pitching the final 1.2 innings and allowing no hits while striking out three.

Little Rock will try to rally and take the second game of the three-game season opening series against Creighton Saturday as Jose Torres is expected to take the mound for the Trojans. Opening pitch between the Trojans and Bluejays is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Gary Hogan Field.

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