LAFAYETTE, La. – Little Rock took an early lead and had a strong start from freshman
Michael Quevedo, but once again, late innings proved costly as the Trojans fell 9-3 to Louisiana Saturday afternoon at Tigue Moore Field. The loss ends the regular season for Little Rock at 24-26 and 11-18 in Sun Belt play, clinching the number eight seed in the Sun Belt Tournament.
After conceding a run in the home half of the first, Quevedo and the Little Rock defense kept the Cajuns off the board in four of the next six innings, highlighted by a two-run top of the third for the Trojans to take a 2-1 lead.
Aidan Garrett had a one-out single, followed by a two-out single from
Tyler Williams, advancing both in scoring position off the throw. That would be enough for
Noah Dickerson, who sent a two-RBI double down the left field line to put Little Rock on top 2-1.
Louisiana would even things up in the home half with a leadoff double and a single, but the Trojan defense would get out of a handful of jams, turning double plays in the third and sixth to end Ragin'Cajun threats.
The Cajuns broke through in the bottom of the seventh, getting a pair of runs on four hits to take the 4-2 lead as Little Rock tried to attempt its comeback in the top of the eighth. Dickerson drew a walk and McWilliams answered with a one-out double, putting runners at second and third.
Nathan Lyons drove in a run off an RBI ground out and
Eldrige Figueroa advanced to second off a walk and a stolen base, but the two runners were stranded.
Louisiana then used a five-run eighth to pull away late for the second night in a row, taking the road series from the Trojans.
Dickerson and McWilliams led the way offensively with a pair of hits each as the duo each had a double. Williams and Garrett were the only other Trojans to get a hit on the night, held to just six total by the Ragin' Cajun pitching staff.
Quevedo was tabbed with the loss after going 6.1 innings and allowing four runs on 12 hits with a strikeout, throwing a career-high 109 pitches. Four other Trojans combined to pitch the final 1.2 innings, led by 1.0 innings from
Preston Davis, who allowed one run on one hit with a pair of strikeouts.
Little Rock now heads to Montgomery, Alabama, for the 2022 Sun Belt Tournament as the number eight seed, playing in the one-game play-in game on Tuesday, May 24. The Trojans will square off with number nine seed App State at 6:30 p.m. from Riverwalk Stadium.
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