Little Rock Set to Begin OVC Play Against Lindenwood

GAMES 18-21 | Lindenwood
Dates/Times	Friday, Mar. 24 - 6 p.m. Saturday, Mar. 25 - 4 p.m. Sunday, Mar. 26 - 1 p.m.
Location	Little Rock, Ark.
Field	Gary Hogan Field
Records	Little Rock (10-8, 0-0 OVC) Lindenwood (3-18, 0-0 OVC)
Watch	Friday | Saturday | Sunday
Live Stats	StatBroadcast Friday | Saturday | Sunday
Twitter	@LittleRockBSB
Series	None
Game Notes	N/A

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Following a four game road trip that included trips to Northwestern State and Memphis, the Trojans return to Gary Hogan Field to open up the programs first ever trip through the Ohio Valley Conference schedule. First pitch of game one of the weekend series will be at 6 p.m. Friday against Lindenwood.
 
Last Time Out
Little Rock completed a home and home midweek series against Memphis that spanned the course of a week on Tuesday, falling 3-5 at the Tiger home field. The Trojans took the lead in the fourth with an RBI single from Ty Rhoades and clung to a 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. Unfortunately, Memphis was able to mount a comeback, scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth and two more in the bottom of the seventh to take a lead which Little Rock could not overcome. The loss dropped the Trojans to a record of 10-8 on the season headed into conference play.
 
Scouting the Lions
Lindenwood enters the weekend with an overall record of 3-18 and is coming off of being swept by Belmont University in a four game series last weekend. As a team the Lions are hitting just .188 on the season with an on-base percentage of .274, Dawson Hokuf leads the team with a .255 batting average. The sophomore from Riverside, California has 14 hits and six RBI to his name entering the weekend. On the mound Lindenwood is allowing 7.23 runs per game as opponents are hitting to an average of .313 off of the Lions pitching staff. Easton Rakers has been solid out of the bullpen for the Lions. The freshman right-hander has made seven appearances with an ERA of 3.09 over 11.2 innings, striking out 13 while only walking three.
 
Series History
These will be the first ever matchups between Little Rock and Lindenwood as the Lions are in their first season as a Division I program, making the jump from Division II this season when the university joined the OVC in July. Lindenwood has been a strong program very recently in its previous level, finishing the shortened 2020 season with a record of 15-1 and following that with a 34-9 record in 2021, advancing to the Division II Midwest Regional that season. One of the Lions wins this season came against South Dakota State whom Little Rock opened up the year hosting at Gary Hogan Field, this is the only common opponent that the two teams have had this season.
 
Three Things to Know

• Headed into conference play, newcomers Nico Baumbach and Skyler Trevino sit at first and second in the Ohio Valley Conference in total homeruns. Baumbach still holds the edge with eight with Trevino on his heels at seven through the first 18 games.
• Rogers, Arkansas native Jackson Wells commands a 0.73 ERA through his first five starts which is good for the fifth best mark in Division I baseball through this point in the season. The sophomore has thrown 24.2 innings for the Trojans and opposing batters are hitting just .193 off the righty.
• Senior Tyler Williams hit his team leading fourth triple of the season on Tuesday at Memphis, this puts him at fifth in the nation and first in the OVC so far in 2023. Williams has also been successful in four of five stolen base attempts this year and he is hitting to the tune of a .318 batting average.

Projected Starters
The expected pitching rotation for this weekend's series is as follows:

• Friday, March 24: RHP Jackson Wells (LR) vs. TBA (LU)
• Saturday, March 25: RHP Preston Davis (LR) vs. TBA (LU)
• Sunday, March 26: TBA (LR) vs. TBA (LU)

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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