Little Rock's Offense Struggles in Loss to Jaguars

Box Score MOBILE, Ala.- Little Rock struggled on the offensive end yet again as South Alabama managed to clinch the series with a 7-2 win, Saturday night in Mobile, Ala.
 
Little Rock falls to 21-24 (13-9 Sun Belt) while South Alabama improves to 24-22 (11-12 Sun Belt).
 
Garrett Scott recorded a two-hit night, going 2-for-4 with a double. Troy Alexander homered in his 2-for-4 performance and Chase Coker scored the other run for Little Rock as he went 1-for-3.
 
Hayden Arnold was solid on the mound for Little Rock, throwing seven innings while only allowing three earned runs on the night. The sophomore scattered seven hits while punching out five hitters and walking three. Arnold was charged with his second loss of the season, falling to 4-2.
 
For the second straight night, South Alabama's Ethan Wilson blasted a solo home run in the first inning to give his team a 1-0 lead.
 
Alexander stepped to the plate to lead off the second inning for the Trojans and answered by hitting a solo shot of his own, a towering fly ball that cleared the wall in right-center, to tie the score at 1-1. This was Alexander's ninth home run of the season.
 
The Jaguars tacked on another run in the bottom of the third to take a 2-1 lead, but an impressive catch from Alexander in left field would stop the bleeding with runners on base.
 
In the fifth inning, Coker led things off with a solid base hit to left field. Eldrige Figueroa moved him over to second with a sacrifice bunt and Christian Reyes kept the small-ball game going with a nifty bunt single to score Coker and tie the game up at 2-2.
 
Arnold settled down after the third inning, tossing four straight scoreless frames to preserve a tie game heading into the eighth. Unfortunately, the Trojans could only muster one run during that stretch.
 
South Alabama got the insurance runs they needed in the bottom of the eighth to take a commanding 7-2 lead heading into the ninth.
 
Alexander picked up his second hit of the night in the final frame but it wasn't enough as the hosts hung on for the series-clinching victory.
 
The series finale takes place tomorrow at 1 p.m. in Mobile, Ala. as the Trojans look to avoid the sweep.
 
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