Little Rock Wins Series Opener Behind Fidel's Gem

LITTLE ROCK- Chandler Fidel was masterful Friday night, tossing seven innings of shutout baseball to lead the Trojans to a 9-1 win in the series opener against Georgia State.
 
"I thought Chandler Fidel's poise was outstanding," said Head Coach Chris Curry. "I think he got out of four jams. We got a big double play on a comebacker. We did a good job against Hunter Gattis, the preseason pitcher of the year who has electric stuff and could pitch in the big leagues. We got him off the mound and got into their bullpen which was our plan."
 
Fidel tallied seven strikeouts on the night, allowing seven hits in his seven innings of work. Riley Pittman led the Trojans with a three-hit night, notching an RBI, a walk and a run scored. Christian Reyes, Ramon Padilla and Eldridge Figueroa each racked up two hits at the plate while seven of the nine Little Rock starters recorded a hit in the contest.
 
After Fidel worked out of his first jam in the opening inning, the Trojans got to work in the second. Pittman led things off with a solid single to center before James Gann reached on an error by the Panthers' shortstop. Little Rock would make the most of this opportunity when Padilla drove both runners home with a base hit to right. The Trojans were not done, as Reyes would double down the left-field line to score Padilla and Figueroa to get out to a commanding 4-0 lead.
 
Both teams would go scoreless until the fifth inning when Garrett Scott blasted a solo shot to left field, his second of the season, to give the Trojans a 5-0 lead.
 
Fidel threw two more scoreless innings before handing the ball off to Dillon Delgadillo in the eighth.
 
Little Rock eventually broke open the game in the bottom of the eighth by putting up an eight-spot to take a 9-1 lead heading into the final inning. Troy Alexander led the inning off with a walk before Padilla notched his second hit of the night. Figueroa singled to score Alexander and a hit from Reyes plated Padilla. Ryan Benavidez got in on the action with a single up the middle to drive in Figueroa and eventually a walk by Pittman would bring Reyes around to score.
 
Delgadillo finished off the game with a spotless inning of work to bring the Trojans to 8-18 overall and grab the win in the series opener.
 
Little Rock will go for the series victory tomorrow at 2 p.m. at Gary Hogan Field.
 
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