LITTLE ROCK – Little Rock and Appalachian State staged a classic pitcher's duel Friday night at Gary Hogan Field, with the Trojan holding the 1-0 lead into the eighth. But a pair of two-out runs for the Mountaineers flipped the script, handing Little Rock the 2-1 series opening loss.
The loss overshadows what was another solid performance from
Hayden Arnold, who went 7.0 innings and allowed no runs on just three hits with eight strikeouts and no walks, throwing 109 pitches. With his 7.0 innings, Arnold upped his career total to 211.0 innings pitched, moving into eighth all-time in program history.
Little Rock's bats struggled early against App State starter Tyler Tuthill, as following a one-out single by
Jorden Hussein in the first, 13-straight Trojan batters were retired until a two-out double in the fifth by
Jake Wright.
Miguel Soto drew a walk to put two runners on before
Kobe Barnum sent a shot to right field, allowing Wright to score from second and give the Trojans the 1-0 lead.
Arnold provided the pitching Little Rock needed, retiring 10 of the first 11 batters he faced, then got out of a jam in the fourth with runners at the corners with just one out, getting a strikeout and forcing a fly out. He would then retire 11 of the next 12 batters he saw with a hit by pitch the lone blemish through seven.
Returning to the mound to start the eighth, he hit the first batter he saw, ending his night and bringing in
Aaron Barkley out of the bullpen. Barkley was able to get a strikeout, then Wright gunned down an App State baserunner on a steal attempt, giving the Trojans two outs in the eighth.
Barkley would have two strikes on the next two App State batters, but a walk and a double to left tied the game at 1-1. The Mountaineers then came through with an RBI single to take the 2-1 lead in the top of the eighth.
After going down in order in the eighth, the Trojans had one last opportunity in the ninth when
Tim Dixon hit a one-out, pinch-hit double to the gap in right center, putting the tying run in scoring position. But Tuthill was able to induce a fly out and ground out to earn the complete game victory for the Mountaineers, throwing 125 pitches in the process.
The Trojans managed just four hits on the evening, getting doubles from Wright and Dixon and singles from Hussein and Barnum. Little Rock once again fell victim to the strikeout, going down on strikes 11 times on the night and marking the fifth-straight game with at least 10 Ks.
Little Rock will look to rebound Saturday evening and will try to even the series with
Aaron Funk heading to the mound. First pitch against the Mountaineers is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Gary Hogan Field with the four Trojan spring and summer graduates recognized in a pregame ceremony.
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