SAN MARCOS, Texas – Down two heading to the eighth inning, Little Rock got to within one in the top of the ninth and had the tying run on base, but couldn't complete the comeback in a 3-2 loss to 17th-ranked Texas State Friday night at Bobcat Ballpark.
Texas State struck first in the bottom of the first, using a one-out triple and a sacrifice fly to take an early 1-0. But
Hayden Arnold settled in and remained solid, keeping Texas State off the board through the next five innings, allowing just three hits with seven strikeouts.
Little Rocks' bats were silent against Bobcat pitching, going hitless until a
Jack Stroth double with two outs in the seventh broke up the no-hitter. But he was stranded at second and the Bobcats added another run in the home half of the seventh, extending the lead to 2-0.
The Trojans finally broke through on the scoreboard in the top of the eighth as a pair of errors allowed
Nathan Lyons to get to second scoring on an RBI single from
Eldrige Figueroa to cut the lead to 2-1.
Texas State pushed its lead back to two at 3-1 in the bottom of the eighth, but the Trojans cut into that once again in the top of the ninth as
Noah Dickerson hit a lead off home run, his seven of the year, to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Canyon McWilliams then drew a walk on a 3-2 count, putting the tying run on base, but three-straight strikeouts closed out the win for the Bobcats.
Little Rock finished with just three hits on the night, coming courtesy of Dickerson's home run, the double from Stroth and Figueroa's RBI single.
Arnold took the loss after another solid outing, going 6.0 innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits with seven strikeouts and five walks, throwing a season-high 112 pitches.
Chance Vaught pitched 1.1 innings, allowing just one run on no hits while
Sawyer Smallwood made his 18th appearance of the season, throwing 0.2 innings with one hit and a pair of strikeouts.
Little Rock looks to bounce back in game two Saturday, getting underway at 2:30 p.m. at Bobcat Ballpark.
Jacob Weatherley is slated to get the start for the Trojans, resuming his spot in the weekend rotation after moving to a reliever role to help shore up Little Rock's bullpen.
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