Grand Slam Highlights Little Rock Win Over UAPB

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Little Rock offense was active early in the game yet again on Tuesday afternoon, scoring eight runs in the first four innings to coast to an 8-3 win over the visiting Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
 
The first inning was smooth for the Trojans starting pitcher, Noah Burkey. After a single to begin the game, he coaxed two fly ball outs from the Golden Lions before Jake Wright threw out a would be base stealer to get Little Rock up to bat.
 
After a 1-2-3 bottom of the first including three groundouts on six pitches Burkey was back to work in the second. The sophomore righty allowed another single, this time with one out, but UAPB was unable to muster another baserunner and the inning ended with yet another zero in the run column.
 
In the bottom of the second inning Skyler Trevino took the 1-1 offering and split the outfielders in right-center for a one out double. He would then steal third before being brought home by a ground ball to the right side off of the bat of Wright. With two outs, Ty Rhoades sent a triple to the wall for the first of his Trojan career but was left stranded as a strikeout ended the inning.
 
The Golden Lions got off to a good start in the third with a double from Ben VanMaanen who then advanced to third on a groundout. Fortunately, Burkey was able to strikeout UAPB centerfielder Micah Brown before getting a ground ball to end the threat.
 
Little Rock came to the plate in the bottom of the third looking to capitalize on the momentum. After a one out triple by Alex Seguine, Ben Harmon stepped up to the plate and was hit by the 1-0 pitch. Harmon then stole second and Nico Baumbach worked a walk to load the bases. Noah Brewer also reached on a base on balls, driving in a run on the bases loaded free pass. Skyler Trevino was next to bat and turned around the first pitch he saw for a grand slam that sailed over the left-center field wall and secured the Trojan lead for good.
 
UAPB showed signs of life in the fourth, hitting two singles and a double to bring in a run before a two out homer by Aidan Martinez to cut the Little Rock lead in half at 6-3. Burkey would go on to get the final out of the inning with a three pitch strikeout.
 
The Golden Lions would go to the bullpen for the bottom of the fourth and the new pitcher started out poorly, hitting sophomore Aidan Garrett on the second pitch thrown. Garrett would get it done with his legs, advancing to third on a stolen base and wild pitch before being brough home on a sac fly in foul territory by Seguine. With two outs in the inning, Baumbach crushed a homerun to dead center field, the first of his Little Rock career. This run got back two of the three given up in the previous inning about brought about the final run of the game.
 
Nelson Smith relieved Burkey in the top of the fifth, pitching a perfect inning which began with two strikeouts and ended with a groundout to first. Trevino walked to begin the bottom half of the inning and stole a base but was stranded at third after reaching with two outs. Smith would collect two more strikeouts in the top of the sixth, working around a double in the process.
 
Both offenses were retired in order in the bottom of the sixth and top of the seventh and Smith would bring his total number of strikeouts to six with two more in the seventh, he would go on to be credited with the win for the game.
 
Calvin Hunt came on in the eighth for his first appearance of the young season. After a leadoff bunt-for-hit attempt was snuffed out to begin the inning, Hunt would strikeout the next batter on three pitches. He then induced a pop out to second base to end the inning, only throwing six pitches.
 
Senior Christian Bernabe saw his first action of the season in a pinch hit appearance in the bottom of the eighth, sending a single into right-center field with one out before it was erased by a double play in the next at-bat.
 
Newcomer Scott McDonough came on to close the game out in the ninth. The Glen Allen, Virginia native struck out the first two batters he faced before getting a fly ball to center to end the game following a walk.
 
The grand slam by Trevino was the first for the Trojans since the win against Auburn on March 14, 2021. This was Trevino's' third homerun of the season in a performance that saw him go 2-for-3 with four RBI, as well as two stolen bases.
 
Smith was outstanding in his Little Rock debut, pitching three innings for the Trojans while striking out six in the process. He allowed just one hit during his time in the game and didn't give up a free pass.
 
Baumbach was one of two Trojans to have a multi-hit game in Tuesday's contest, going 2-for-3 and hitting his first homerun of the season.
 
Hunt and McDonough combined for two innings pitched and struck out a combined three batters in their six outs. The pitching staff as a whole was in the zone all day for the Trojans, only walking one batter in the game.
 
Little Rock will be back in action this Friday when Bradley University comes to town for a three game series. Game one is scheduled for a 3 p.m. first pitch.
 
Due to the impending inclement weather in the central Arkansas region, tomorrow's game at UAPB has been postponed to a later date.
 
For the latest information on Little Rock Baseball, make sure to check out LRTrojans.com. You can also find the team on social media at @LittleRockBSB on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
 
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