LITTLE ROCK – Little Rock again rallied from a three-run deficit, tying the game at 5-5 after regulation, then for the second day in a row ended the game in a walk-off, this time courtesy of a solo home run from
Jake Wright in the bottom of the 10th to claim the 6-5 win over UT Arlington.
The win completes the weekend sweep of the Mavericks as the Trojans extend their winning streak to five games, improving to 16-12 overall and 6-6 in Sun Belt play. Little Rock is now 14-6 at Gary Hogan Field this season, its most home victories since going 16-12 in 2019.
Little Rock struck first on a near-perfect Sunday afternoon, starting the game with a leadoff single from
Eldrige Figueroa, who advanced to second on a stolen base and to third on a ground out. He would come the final 90 feet off an RBI ground out from
Noah Dickerson, putting the Trojans on top 1-0 after one.
UT Arlington took advantage of the high winds in the second, sending a pair of balls into the stream in the top of the second and notching a pair of two-run home runs to take a 4-1 lead. The Trojans anwered in the home half, loading the bases off a walk to
Jack Stroth and infield singles from
Miguel Soto and Wright.
Jorden Hussein sent a base hit to right, scoring a pair, followed by an RBI single to left center from Dickerson, bringing Wright home and evening the score at 4-4 after two.
Both teams had chances over the next four innings, but neither team was able to take advantage as both the Mavericks and Trojans stranded five runners each in the third through sixth innings, including UT Arlington leaving the bases loaded in the fourth.
UTA broke the tie in the top of the seventh, benefitting from a leadoff single to get a two-out RBI single, taking the lead at 5-4. After stranding runners at second and third in the home half of the seventh, the Trojans took advantage of a Wright double to lead off the eighth, scoring him off a sacrifice fly from Hussein to even the game at 5-5.
UT Arlington and Little Rock both threatened in the ninth as a pair of Maverick singles gave UTA runners at the corners with two outs before the Trojans escaped the jam. Little Rock returned the favor with runners at second and third with two outs in the ninth, but couldn't get the hit to bring them around.
The Mavericks once again threatened in the 10th, getting runners at first and second off a double and an intentional walk with one gone in the inning. But freshman
Preston Davis notched a key strikeout, then UTA popped out in foul territory to Wright to end the inning.
Wright would then play the heroics in the bottom of the 10th, taking the third pitch he saw over the left field wall for his fourth home run of the year, giving Little Rock back-to-back walk-offs and the series sweep of the Mavericks.
Wright was solid all afternoon, going 3-for-5 with the double and home run and RBI, scoring three of the Trojans' six runs on the day.
Nathan Lyons also went 3-for-5 as Little Rock finished with 14 hits against the Maverick pitching staff.
Hussein and Williams both had a pair of hits as Hussein had three RBI on the afternoon, coming off the two-RBI single and the sacrifice fly in the eighth. Dickerson had a pair of RBI as well, going 1-for-5 at the plate with the single and groundout RBI.
On the mound, Little Rock's pitching staff combined for 12 strikeouts on the day, led by six from starter
Hoss Brewer, who allowed four runs off the two two-run home runs in the second with seven total hits in 3.0 innings.
Chance Vaught had another solid outing out of the bullpen, going 4.0 innings and allowing one run on three hits with three strikeouts, throwing 61 pitches.
Joey Martin went 1.1 innings, allowing a pair of hits with a strikeout and
Sawyer Smallwood made his third appearance of the weekend, going 0.2 innings and allowing one hit with a strikeout to get the Trojans out of the ninth.
Davis earned his first collegiate win, pitching the 10th and allowing just one hit with a strikeout.
Little Rock sits at 3-0 on this seven-game home stand and will prepare now for a busy week against in-state foes at Gary Hogan Field. The Trojans will welcome Central Arkansas on Tuesday afternoon for the second of three games this season with first pitch against the Bears scheduled for 6 p.m.
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