Trojans Clinch Season Series Against UCA

CONWAY, Ark. – Little Rock scored seven early runs and never looked back in a convincing 8-2 win over Central Arkansas at Bear Stadium on Tuesday afternoon. The win improves the Trojans record to 24-14 on the season and clinches the season series against the Bears with one more game to play on May 16 at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock.
 
The Trojans kicked things off in a hurry with Alex Seguine shooting a single up the middle to begin the contest with a hit in a fourth straight game going back to last Friday. Tyler Williams then came to the plate and slapped a double into left-center to get a pair of runners in scoring position with nobody out. A groundout and infield single by Nico Baumbach scored the two runners before Luke Pectol stepped up to the dish and crushed his fourth homerun of the season to one of the deepest sections of the park. At the end of it all, Little Rock had managed to put the Bears in a 4-0 hole after the top of the first.
 
Freshman Malcolm Brown made the start for the Trojans and got out to an excellent start, retiring the first three Bears batters on just seven pitches with a little help from the defense including a leaping grab from Pectol to rob an extra base hit or potential homerun.
 
Christian Bernabe and Williams both singled in the second inning but it was ended by an outfield assist before any scoring chances could develop. Brown headed back out to the mound for the bottom of the second and picked up his first strikeout along with a pair of ground balls for his second straight 1-2-3 inning.
 
Little Rock continued to add on to the lead in the top of the third with a single from Ty Rhoades leading things off. Following a walk of Skyler Trevino and popout, the Trojans had runners on first and third with two outs. Noah Brewer hooked a line drive into left field for a single to score Rhoades and move Trevino to third. Bernabe then singled up the middle to score both Trevino and Brewer and put the Trojans up 7-0.
 
UCA was able to get an unearned run off of Brown in the bottom of the third after a runner was able to advance on a passed ball. The Bears continued to threaten but a 5-3 line drive double play followed by a strikeout ended the inning.
 
After a quiet fourth inning from the offense, Camden Sargent came out of the bullpen in relief of Brown. The Bears would score another unearned run in the inning for their final run of the game.
 
The Trojans would not score again until the top of the seventh with Trevino working a two out walk and then scoring on a triple off the bat of Pectol, bringing the game to its final score of 8-2.
 
Chance Vaught entered the game in the eighth and finished out the contest, striking out four batters over the final two innings to clinch the win and season series against the Bears.
 
Pectol led the offense with three runs driven in in a 2-for-5 performance, homering in the first and tripling in the seventh.
 
Williams led the team in hits on the day with three in a 3-for-4 game including two doubles and also scored once.
 
Bernabe went 2-for-3 at the plate and drove in two runs, he also walked once.
 
Brown earned the win for his efforts over the first three innings. The freshman from Texarkana, Texas allowed just one hit and no earned runs with two strikeouts.
 
Sargent was solid in the middle four innings of the game, scattering two hits and not allowing an earned run while striking out one.
 
The Trojans are scheduled to be back in action tomorrow at 6 p.m. against a visiting Arkansas State squad. Senior Erik McKnight is slated to get the start for Little Rock.
 
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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