LITTLE ROCK - Trailing by four in the eighth inning, Little Rock began a late rally in the eighth to try and notch its first series victory of the 2019 season. But the rally fell short as the Trojans dropped a 4-2 decision to Louisiana at Gary Hogan Field Sunday afternoon.
The loss gives the Ragin' Cajuns the 2-1 series victory as Little Rock falls to 6-14 on the year and 1-2 in Sun Belt play.
Down 4-0 to Louisiana entering the eighth,
Chase Coker led off the inning with his first triple of the season, sending a shot past the diving Ragin' Cajun right fielder. Coker would then score following a sacrifice bunt from
Christian Reyes, trimming the deficit to 4-1.
Ryan Benavidez then stepped to the plate and ripped a double to right center, putting the tying run on deck and ending the day of Louisiana starting pitcher Austin Perrin. After a
Garrett Scott strikeout,
Riley Pittman hit a shot over the first baseman's head, allowing Benavidez to score from second and make the score 4-2.
Pittman would then advance to second on a wild pitch, followed by
James Gann drawing an eight-pitch full count walk to bring the potential go-ahead run to the plate. Seeing his first action of the day,
Troy Alexander stepped in to pinch it, but his shot to left was reeled in, ending the threat and the Trojans' comeback hopes.
Louisiana once again jumped out to an early lead on the Trojans, scoring once in the second, once in the third and twice in the fifth to break open the early 4-0 lead. The Ragin' Cajun pitching held Little Rock to just three hits through the first seven innings and six on the day as six different Trojans recorded a hit on the afternoon.
Nick Perez made his first career start on the mound and went 2.2 innings, allowing four hits and two runs with four strikeouts and was credited with the loss.
Dillon Delgadillo pitched 3.1 innings and allowed the same two runs on four hits with three Ks while
Hayden Arnold had another efficient outing, allowing just one hit with a pair of strikeouts over three innings of work.
Coker and Benavidez registered the only extra base hits of the day as all nine Ragin' Cajun hits were singles.Â
Little Rock will now hit the road for an extended five game spring break road trip, beginning Tuesday when the Trojans head to Starkville, Mississippi, to battle sixth-ranked Mississippi State. Opening pitch against the Bulldogs is set for 6:30 p.m. at Dudley-Noble Field/Polk-Dement Stadium and will be broadcast on SEC Network +.
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