Wells Shoves in Series Opener Against Eastern Illinois

CHARLESTON, Ill. – It was a classic Friday night pitcher's duel at Coaches Stadium today as neither offense was truly able to get going off of the oppositions starting pitcher until the latter part of the game. In the end Little Rock came out on top, improving to 19-12 and 7-3 in Ohio Valley Conference play with a 4-3 win on Friday afternoon against Eastern Illinois.
 
The Panthers were the ones to take the early lead in the game. After a leadoff walk to begin the inning, a sac bunt and another bunt single with a throwing error pushed an unearned run across the plate.
 
Little Rock finally broke into the hit column in the fifth when Luke Pectol peppered a double into the right-center field gap with two outs. However, he was stranded after a lineout to left ended the threat.
 
An inning later the Trojans would take the lead for good. Beginning with back to back hit by pitches of Noah Brewer and Jake Wright, a batter later Tyler Williams would single through the left side and bring home a pinch running Ben Harmon. A fielder's choice moved the runners up to second and third with two outs where Nico Baumbach singled to left-center, bringing home Wright and Williams, and giving Little Rock a 3-1 lead.
 
Jackson Wells returned to the bump in the bottom of the frame and, after a leadoff walk, got a strikeout followed by a 5-4-3 double play to keep the momentum with the Trojans.
 
Little Rock's final run of the game came in the top of the eighth. Trey Hill was leading off in the inning and hit the first pitch he saw the opposite way; it sailed over the right center field fence for a homerun. This was Hill's first homer as well as first collegiate hit and the run would end up being the game winner for the Trojans.
 
Eastern Illinois made things interesting in the ninth inning, an error and double to begin the inning brought the tying run up to the plate with nobody out. A sac fly and ground out scored a run and put a runner on third before a single brought home the Panthers third run of the game. Fortunately, a popup to short ended the contest a batter later with the tying run stranded at second base.
 
None of the Panthers three runs of the afternoon were earned as they all came home on miscues on the part of Little Rock. In contrast, all of the Trojans runs were earned as they were able to capitalize in opportunistic situations.
 
Jackson Wells made his longest start of the season in terms of innings pitched. The sophomore right-hander lasted through eight frames and allowed just five hits to go along with zero earned runs, striking out three in the process.
 
The Trojans made the most out of four hits on the afternoon as both Williams and Baumbach collected at least one run batted in on their singles in the sixth as well as Hill scoring on the homerun in the eighth.
 
Little Rock will be back for a doubleheader tomorrow to wrap up the series against Eastern Illinois as Sunday's game was moved up to try and avoid storms in the Charleston area. Noah Burkey is slated to get the ball in game one going up against Ky Hampton for Eastern Illinois.
 
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