LITTLE ROCK – Hayden Arnold was efficient through seven innings and the Trojans used timely hitting to take the opening game of the weekend series against Western Illinois 6-2 at Gary Hogan Field.
Arnold picked up his first win of the season, going 7.1 innings and allowing just two runs (one earned) on six hits, throwing 89 total pitches. Arnold at one point retired 14-straight Leatherneck batters, striking out five to earn his first win of the season.
Little Rock's offense combined for seven hits but also drew seven walks, keeping Trojans on the base paths for most of a chilly afternoon at Gary Hogan Field. With first pitch temperature hovering around 35 degrees, Little Rock showed patience at the plate, putting runners in scoring position in each of the first four innings but were unable to bring a runner around.
The Trojans final broke through in the fifth as Eldridge Figueroa was hit by a pitch, then stole second to get in scoring position for the fifth-straight inning. This time, he made it around thanks to a towering two-run home run from
Noah Dickerson to right, his third of the season, to give the Trojans the 2-0 lead.
Little Rock struck again in the sixth behind back-to-back walks from
Miguel Soto and
Jake Wright, advanced to second and third off a sacrifice bunt from
Andrew Pickering. A fielders choice by
Jorden Hussein sent Soto home, who beat the throw home from the third baseman to make it 3-0 Little Rock.
But as was the story of the day, Little Rock couldn't convert on opportunities, leaving 14 runners stranded on the basepath.
After retiring the 14-straight batters from the first through the fifth innings, Western Illinois got a pair of hits off Arnold in the sixth, then began the eighth with a double, followed by a fielding error and an RBI double, trimming the lead to 3-2 and ending Arnold's day.
But
Matthew Davis came out of the bullpen and did his job, forcing the Leathernecks into a double play to end the eighth and keeping the score 3-2. Little Rock then gave him some insurance runs in the home half, using a hit-by-pitch by Figueroa, a double from
Canyon McWilliams and an intentional walk to Dickerson to load the bases, bringing one home off a
Nathan Lyons sacrifice fly.
After a
Miguel Soto walk,
Jake Wright came up clutch again with a two-RBI double to left, bringing Dickerson and McWilliams home and extending the Trojan lead to 6-2.
That was all the cushion Davis would need, striking out a pair in the ninth, including the final batter of the game, giving him his first career save and preserving Little Rock's third-straight win.
McWilliams and Dickerson each had a pair of hits on the day as the duo hit for the combined cycle. Dickerson notched the home run and the single with McWilliams adding the double and triple. Wright added the two RBI double as Little Rock recorded three more stolen bases on the day, including a pair for Figueroa.
Saturday's schedule has been adjusted slightly as the Trojans and Leathernecks will play a single game, getting underway at 1 p.m. at Gary Hogan Field as rain is in the forecast for late afternoon into the evening hours.
Jacob Weatherley will get the start on the mound for the Trojans.
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