STATESBORO, Ga. – Trailing 8-1 after three innings, Little Rock mounted a furious comeback, scoring the game-tying run in the ninth to send its showdown with Georgia Southern to extra innings for the second-straight day.
The Trojans then came up clutch in the 12th, scoring three more runs, before fighting off a late Eagle rally, stunning Georgia Southern 11-10 at J.I Clements Stadium in a four and a half hour slugfest.
The effort was led by a five RBI day from
Troy Alexander, who blasted a pair of home runs, then added the insurance run off a double in the 12th, finishing the day 5-for-7 with a pair of runs scored.
Little Rock tallied a season-high 19 hits on the day against the Eagles with
Christian Reyes,
Garrett Scott,
Riley Pittman,
James Gann,
Eldrige Figueroa and
Chase Coker all finishing with a pair on the afternoon.
Little Rock drew first blood in the top of the first, beginning with a leadoff double for Reyes. He would score two batters later when Scott reached on a fielders choice, giving the Trojans the early 1-0 lead.
But Georgia Southern responded with three runs in the first and five more in the third, building an 8-1 lead on the Trojans after three complete.
Alexander then went to work, knocking a solo shot to right in the fourth, then hitting a three run homer in the fifth to pull the Trojans to within three at 8-5 in the first multi-homer game of the year for the Trojans.
Little Rock then trimmed the deficit even more in the fifth off an RBI double from Coker, plating Figueroa to cut the deficit to 8-6. Benavidez then knocked an RBI single to score Coker as the Trojans pulled to within one at 8-7.
It would remain that score until the ninth when the Trojans were down to their last out. Reyes and Benavidez both drew full count walks putting two on for Scott, who then sent a single to left, allowing Reyes to score from second and tying the game at 8-8. The Trojans then retired the Eagles in order, sending the game to extras.
Neither team was able to threaten in the 10th and 11th before Little Rock finally took advantage in the 12th. Benavidez was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, followed by a single by Pittman to put two runners on. Gann then drilled a shot up the middle to bring them both home, giving Little Rock its first lead since the first inning at 10-8.
Alexander then bookended his impressive performance, ripping an RBI double down the right field line to score Gann, Alexander's fifth RBI of the day, and giving the Trojans an insurance run at 11-8 after 12.
That run would prove big as the Eagles rallied for two runs in the 12th and had both the tying and winning run on base, but Little Rock holds on to topple the Eagles and snap the four-game losing skid.
Zach Ours picks up the win for the Trojans, pitching 6.1 innings and calming down the Eagle bats, allowing just two runs on five hits with six strikeouts from the fifth through 12th innings.
Hayden Arnold came on with two outs in the 12th and registered the final out to pick up his first save of the season.
Little Rock will now try to claim the series against Georgia Southern with the rubber game Sunday afternoon. First pitch against the Eagles is scheduled for a 12 p.m. CT start at J.I. Clements Stadium.
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