| GAME 7 - CENTRAL ARKANSAS |
| Date |
Wednesday, March 3 |
| Time |
3 p.m. |
| Location |
Little Rock, Ark. |
| Field |
Gary Hogan Field |
| Records |
Little Rock (2-4, 0-0 SBC)
Central Arkansas (1-2, 0-0 SLC) |
| Watch |
No video this weekend |
| Listen |
920 AM The Sports Animal |
| Live Stats |
StatBroadcast |
LITTLE ROCK – Little Rock concludes it season-opening four-game homestand with the first of two games this season against Central Arkansas. Opening pitch against the Bears is set for 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 3 at Gary Hogan Field and carried live on the radio on 920 AM The Sports Animal with Trey Schaap on the call.
Promotions
The first 100 fans to Gary Hogan Field will receive "Beat UCA" buttons.
Governor's I-40 Showdown
The game Wednesday against Central Arkansas marks the first of two games this season in the Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield Governor's I-40 Showdown, the annual rivalry series between the two programs. Three points are on the line for Wednesday's game as Central Arkansas currently holds a 14-10 lead following the conclusion of the winter sports. The second game of the series will be April 13 in Conway.
Last Time Out
Eastern Illinois took two of three from Little Rock over the weekend with the Trojans earning the 6-5 victory in Saturday's series finale. A solo home run by
Tim Dixon in the bottom of the seventh gave Little Rock the lead and a strong pitching performance by
Aaron Barkley shut the door on the Panthers. Barkley pitched the final 3.2 innings, retiring 11 of the 12 Eastern Illinois batters he faced, including the final 10.
Scouting the Bears
Central Arkansas enters Wednesday's game at 1-2 on the year, dropping a three-game series at Missouri State over the weekend. UCA is batting .176 as a team, led by Christian Brasher's .375 average with a pair of doubles an an RBI. Benny Ayala leads Central Arkansas with three RBI on the year, hitting .273, with Hunter Hucks tallying the Bears' lone home run. On the mound, Central Arkansas has a 7.20 team ERA with opponents batting .350 as the pitching staff has a combined 26 strikeouts on the season.
Series History
Little Rock leads the all-time series against Central Arkansas 29-19, including winning three-straight over the Bears after sweeping the 2019 series. The Trojans won 5-1 in Conway, followed by a 4-2 win at Gary Hogan Field and a 5-1 decision at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock. The Trojans are 15-9 against the I-40 rivals at Gary Hogan Field since 1986, winning five of the last seven.
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
1.
Aaron Barkley and
John Michael Russ were tabbed as the Trojan Players of the Week by head coach
Chris Curry. Barkley pitched 6.1 innings in relief against both Oklahoma State and Eastern Illinois, allowing no runs on four hits with no walks and five strikeouts, earning the win over the Panthers. Russ batted .471 for the week, including going 7-for-9 in the two games he played against Eastern Illinois, with an RBI and a 1.000 fielding percentage behind the plate.
2.
Jorden Hussein came on strong over the last week for the Trojans, playing in four games with three starts at second base and batting .500 for the week after going 5-for-10. Hussein added a double and an RBI, helping lead the Trojans to the Saturday win over Eastern Illinois.
3. Little Rock's game against Central Arkansas is the first of five games for the Trojans against members of the Southland Conference this season, playing a pair against Central Arkansas and three games at Sam Houston State. The Trojans are 90-122 (.425) all-time against current Southland Conference members, winning 29 games against the Bears, 19 against Northwestern State and 13 over New Orleans.
4. Four Trojans enter Wednesday's game batting .300 or better, led by
Jorden Hussein's .500 average (5-for-10) and
John Michael Russ' .429 (9-for-21).
Tyler Williams is sitting at .350 this season (7-for-20) with a team-best six RBI, a triple and a home run, with
Eldrige Figueroa registering three doubles already on the year, accounting for half of his six hits.
5. Seven Trojan pitchers enter the week having yet to concede an earned run as pitching coach
R.D. Spiehs has utilized all 19 pitchers on the roster through the first week of the season. Barkley has pitched the most innings without giving up an earned run at 6.1 with
Cal Beardsley and
Sawyer Smallwood both at two innings pitched, followed by
Luke Wallner,
Reese Lansville at 1.1 innings.
#LittleRocksTeam
