CONWAY, Ark. – Little Rock and Central Arkansas engaged in a pitcher's duel Wednesday afternoon at Bear Stadium, but it was the Bears that got the key runs when it counted, handing the Trojans the 3-1 loss in the first of three meetings this season.
The loss overshadows a solid relief appearance for
Sawyer Smallwood, who came on to pitch 5.1 innings and give up just two hits with six strikeouts, keeping the Trojans in the game. But Little Rock scattered six hits, including just one for extra bases, keeping the offense in check.
Matthew Davis made his first career start for Little Rock, going 2.1 innings and didn't allow a hit with a strikeout, but surrendered five walks which helped contribute to the first two Bear runs.
Central Arkansas struck in the top of the first, plating an unearned run to take the early 1-0 lead, then would had two more in the third, loading the bases off a pair of walks and an error before the third walk of the inning would make it 2-0 on Davis.
Smallwood came on in relief with two outs in the third and inheriting the bases loaded. An RBI single pushed the UCA lead to 3-0, but the final out came at the plate as
Noah Dickerson gunned down the runner trying to score from third to end the inning.
That jump started the stellar performance from Smallwood who would go on to retire the next 11 batters he faced with six strikeouts, keeping the Trojans in the ballgame.
But Little Rock's offense was unable to cut into the lead as 10-straight batters were retired before Dickerson's leadoff single in the top of the seventh broke the streak. He would advance to third on a tag-up off a deep fly ball, then come across to score off a throwing error by short on
Jake Wright's at bat, cutting into the lead at 3-1.
Smallwood would pitch through the second out of the eighth, relieved by
Ezra Gustafson who made the final out of the inning to give the Trojans one final chance in the ninth. But Little Rock was only able to muster a one-out single by
Nathan Lyons, dropping the first game of the Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield Governor's I-40 Showdown.
The six hits is the second-fewest on the year for the Trojans as six different Little Rock batters scattered the hits. Dickerson had the lone extra base knock with the leadoff double in the seventh, extending his hitting streak to five-straight games.
Central Arkansas starter Jesse Barker went 6.2 innings and allowed just the one run on four hits, registering four strikeouts. Reliever Andrew Shoultz earned the save, pitching the final 2.1 innings and allowing just a pair of hits with three strikeouts.
Little Rock now returns home to begin a five-game home stand at Gary Hogan Field, starting with a four game weekend series against North Alabama. Game one will get underway at 1 p.m. Friday afternoon with
Hayden Arnold taking the mound in his series opening start.
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