Trojans Grab First Win; Split Doubleheader

LITTLE ROCK- The Trojans grabbed their first win of the season behind a clutch Chase Coker grand slam in the eighth inning of game one, but split the doubleheader against Evansville Sunday afternoon.
 
Game One
 
Ty Gordon picked up his first win of the season after pitching three scoreless innings in relief, recording three strikeouts and only surrendering two hits. Donavin Buck came on to slam the door in the ninth, notching his first save of the year.
 
Troy Alexander and Coker led the offense, each tallying a home run in the contest. Coker racked up four RBI on his grand slam. Josh Nowak came off the bench to go 1-for-3 and notch an RBI.
 
Both teams scored in the opening frame, Chandler Fidel earning the start for the Trojans. Little Rock strung together three consecutive walks to bring their first run to the plate, but left the bases loaded.
 
The Purple Aces used some timely hitting to put up a four spot in the third inning to make the score 5-1 and get out to a commanding lead.
 
Fidel would settle in, however, and pitch two scoreless innings before handing the ball off to Gordon in the sixth inning. A towering home run to right field by Alexander made the score 5-2 and a Nowak double scored James Gann in the seventh to cut the lead to two runs heading into the eighth.
 
The game-changing swing came in the bottom of the eighth after a Benavidez single, Garrett Scott double and Alexander hit-by-pitch. Coker walked to the plate and hit a grand slam on the first pitch he saw to bring all the runners to the plate, including himself, and gave the Trojans a 7-5 lead.
 
Buck toed the rubber in the ninth and made quick work of Evansville to grab the save and clinch the first victory of the year.
 
Game Two
 
Jose Torres made the start in game two and threw three perfect innings to start the contest.
 
The Purple Aces struck for two runs in the fourth and held a lead that they would not give up for the remainder of the game.
 
Evansville tacked on another in the fifth and got out to a 3-0 lead heading into the sixth.
 
Ryan Benavidez blasted a solo shot into the night sky for the Trojans' only run of the game in the eighth inning.

Torres would be charged with the loss and the Trojans would fall to 1-5 on the season.
 
The rubber match takes place tomorrow at 1 p.m. back at Gary Hogan Field.
 
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