Little Rock Begins OVC Journey with Doubleheader Victories

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Stellar starting pitching served as the catalyst for Little Rock this afternoon in both games of Saturday's doubleheader. The Trojans won a close contest in game one by a score of 4-3 before a convincing 9-3 win in game two of the day on a soggy Gary Hogan Field. The wins improve Little Rock's record to 12-8 on the year and a 2-0 start to Ohio Valley Conference play.
 
Game One – Little Rock 4, Lindenwood 3
 
Little Rock starter Jackson Wells started off the day hot, striking out three through the first two innings of play and did not allow a Lindenwood baserunner until the third inning.
 
The Trojan offense got things going in the bottom of the second inning. Noah Brewer and Skyler Trevino hit back to back doubles to begin the inning and kick off the scoring. A batter later Ty Rhoades would single up the middle, plating Trevino and giving Little Rock an early 2-0 lead.
 
Both starting pitchers would settle into a groove and things went quiet until the top of the fifth when a double and single from the Lions would score their first run of the game and bring the game within a run. Lindenwood added another run in the top of the sixth with a two out solo homer to pull the contest even at 2-2.
 
Little Rock would go up for good in the bottom of the frame thanks to some miscues from the Lion defense. Alex Seguine reached third base with one out on a pair of throwing errors which was followed by Rhoades reaching on another error. Jaxson Anderson then reached safely on a fielder's choice where a throw was mishandled by Lindenwood's second baseman resulting in Rhoades advancing to second. Jake Wright brought home the final Little Rock run of the game in the next at bat with a single through the left side, putting the Trojans up 4-2.
 
Wells struck out the first two batters in the seventh before a two out single chased him from the game. Austin Stubber came in and got out of the inning with no damage done to the Little Rock lead.
 
Two doubles in the eighth by the Lions scored a run and again closed the gap to just one run, but further damage was avoided. Stubber was able to induce three harmless fly balls in the ninth inning to close out the game and earn the save in the 4-3 win.
Wells struck out eight and walked none in his 6.2 innings of work, allowing six hits and just two runs while earning the win.
 
Four Trojans scored once each in the first game of the day in Brewer, Rhoades, Seguine and Trevino.
 
Brewer, Trevino and Tyler Williams all had doubles in game one for their only hits in the competition.
 
Game Two – Little Rock 9, Lindenwood 3
 
Game two began with a strikeout from starter Preston Davis who then completed the first inning without allowing a runner past first base, and after a 1-2-3 inning from Lindenwood headed back to the field.
 
Davis struck out the first batter of the inning before three consecutive singles loaded the bases for the Lions with just one out in the inning. The sophomore from Texarkana, Texas then reared back and struck out the next two batters, escaping the jam while striking out the side.
 
Rhoades began the bottom of the third inning with a double down the right field line which was followed by four more Little Rock hits before the first out of the inning was recorded. Anderson would single to put runners on first and third before another single by Seguine scored Rhoades. A third single in as many batters off the bat of Williams scored Anderson as the Trojans continued to swap places on the basepath. Yet another single by Nico Baumbach plated Seguine and sent Williams to third where he would eventually be scored on a fielder's choice. By the end of the inning the Trojans would find themselves up 4-0 with five hits in the inning, four of which being singles.
 
A scoreless top of the fourth was ended with another strikeout from Davis and Little Rock promptly got back to work at the plate. Wright reached on an error to begin the inning and made his way to third with a stolen base and ground ball to the right side. Anderson would then single through the left side to score Wright and put Little Rock up five.
 
Chance Vaught took over for Davis in the top of the sixth and he escaped a bases loaded situation with a ground ball to end the inning and preserve the then shutout. The Trojans added another run in the bottom of the frame as Rhoades singled and then advanced to third on a wild pitch and balk, then scoring on a single from Williams.
 
Lindenwood would get on the board via a wild pitch with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh. Little Rock countered with two runs of its own in the bottom of the seventh when Brewer and Trevino scored on a double down the left field line off the bat of Wright.
 
The Lions added two more runs in the next inning with singles into left field accounting for both runs. The Trojans would score last when Williams reached on a single, stole second, advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt, and was brought home on a wild pitch.
 
Erik Mcknight made his first appearance of the year coming on in the ninth inning. The senior from Littleton, Colorado struck out the first batter then got a groundout and flyout to secure the win and series win for Little Rock.
 
Williams led the offense in game two with a 3-for-5 performance, scoring twice and bringing home two runs, he also stole three bases in the game.
 
Rhoades scored twice in the second game and was 2-for-4 at the dish with a double.
 
Wright was one of two Trojans with multiple RBI in the game. The senior from Bryant, Arkansas brought home two runners with a double in a 1-for-4 game.
 
Davis provided a spark for Little Rock on the mound. The sophomore righthander pitched five innings and allowed just four hits and zero runs with six strikeouts en route to earning the win.
 
Trevino and Anderson each a multi-hit performance as both went 2-for-4 scoring once and driving in one run.
 
The Trojans will go for the sweep to open up the OVC schedule in tomorrow's series finale against Lindenwood. Sophomore Noah Burkey is slated to get the start for Little Rock, first pitch will be at 1 p.m. at Gary Hogan Field.
 
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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