JONESBORO, Ark. – It was an old-fashioned pitchers duel Friday night in Jonesboro, but the Trojans came up on the short end of a 4-0 decision to Arkansas State at Tomlinson Stadium as the Red Wolves scored three runs with two outs in the eighth.
Little Rock falls to 12-10 on the year and 3-2 in Sun Belt play while Arkansas State improves to 7-14 and 2-3 in league play.
The loss overshadowed a stellar pitching performance by
Hayden Arnold, who was solid through the first 7.2 innings of play, allowing just seven hits and one run with 10 strikeouts. But a two-out triple, followed by a seeing-eye single plated three runs in the eighth to saddle Arnold with the loss after a career-high 119 pitches.
Little Rock's offense once again struggled against the Red Wolves pitching, registering just seven hits and being shut out for the first time since the 7-0 loss at Auburn on March 13.
Eldrige Figueroa was the only Trojan with multi-hits, going 3-for-3 on the night, with four others finishing with one hit, including doubles from
Jorden Hussein and
John Michael Russ.
Both teams were unable to get anything going through the first five and a half innings, although Little Rock threatened in the top of the first inning, loading the bases behind a double from Hussein and walks to Russ and
Noah Dickerson, but foul out ended the threat for the Trojans.
Little Rock also stranded runners in scoring position in both the fourth and fifth innings, thanks to a double from Russ in the fourth and a single from
Kobe Barnum in the fifth, advancing on a sacrifice bunt from Figueroa.
Arkansas State's first run of the game came on the first pitch of the sixth inning, sending a shot to right field that went just over the outstretched glove of
Kenny Rodriguez, clearing the fence by mere inches.
Little Rock had another golden opportunity in the eighth, beginning with back-to-back singles by Figueroa and
Nathan Lyons. A sacrifice bunt from Hussein advanced the runners 90 feet, and
Tyler Williams was intentionally walked to load the bases and set up a possible double play situation. But a strikeout from Russ was followed by a diving snag by the shortstop off a line drive from Dickerson, stranding the three Trojan baserunners.
Arnold was then able to get the first two outs of the eighth for Little Rock before the two-out three-run outburst by Arkansas State put the game away.
The Trojans will look to take the final game of the series Saturday afternoon with
Jack DeCooman scheduled to head to the mound. Opening pitch is slated for 1 p.m. at Tomlinson Stadium.
#LittleRocksTeam
