JONESBORO, Ark. – Little Rock's bats were hot early, but cooled off in a major way as Arkansas State takes the opener of the three game series with a 10-2 victory over the Trojans Thursday night at Tomlinson Stadium.
The Trojan offense managed just five hits on the night, its lowest total since generating just four hits at Auburn on March 13. Little Rock's defense also committed a pair of errors, more than it had committed in its last seven games combined.
Little Rock got the scoring going early against its rivals with
Tyler Williams belting a two-out home run in the top of the first, putting the Trojans on top 1-0 after one. It is his team-best fifth home run of the year, extending his hitting streak to nine games while he has now reached base in all 21 games on the year.
After the Red Wolves tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first,
Kenny Rodriguez followed in Williams' footsteps, belting a leadoff home run in the second to nearly the same spot, reclaiming the lead for the Trojans at 2-1. It is the third home run of the year for Rodriguez, extending his hitting streak to nine games as well.
But after those two home runs, Little Rock's bats struggled against Arkansas State pitching as the Red Wolves retired 19 of the next 20 Trojan batters, including 14-straight, extending into the eighth. During that Arkansas State slowly extended its lead before breaking the game open with a six-run seventh, building the 10-2 edge.
Noah Dickerson was the lone Trojan who had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4. Williams, Rodriguez and
Jorden Hussein were the only other Little Rock batters to tally hits on a chilly night in northeast Arkansas.
Starter
Aaron Funk took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits in 4.0 innings of work, striking out seven on 94 pitches. Reliever
Jacob Weatherley returned to his hometown and was strong to start his outing before running into trouble in the seventh, finishing with four runs (three earned) on three hits with a pair of strikeouts in 2.1 innings of work.
Four different Trojan pitchers saw action in the six-run Arkansas State sixth as the Red Wolves benefitted from errors and wild pitches to lead to the big inning.
Luke Wallner settled Arkansas State down, pitching the final 1.2 innings and retiring all five batters he saw with a pair of strikeouts.
The loss is the first of the season for Little Rock in Sun Belt play, falling to 3-1. It also ends the Trojans' 11-game winning streak against in-state opponents, dating back to May of 2018, also against the rival Red Wolves.
Little Rock will look to start a new winning streak Saturday in game two of the series with Arkansas State.
Hayden Arnold will take to the mound for the Trojans in a 6 p.m. start from Jonesboro.
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