Early Runs Prove too Much for Trojans to Overcome

MOREHEAD, Ky. – Morehead struck for 12 runs over the first three innings, putting the Trojans behind by seven early, and a late rally was not enough as Little Rock fell to the Eagles by a final score of 14-10 on Friday. The loss drops the Trojans to 30-21 on the year and 14-8 in OVC play with one game left in the regular season.
 
Little Rock went up early in the game with two two-out RBI on singles by Nico Baumbach and Christian Bernabe to lead 2-0 after the top of the first. Morehead responded quickly with a leadoff homerun and added two more runs on another homer later on in the inning, both to the short porch in right field at Allen Field.
 
MSU would add another run in the bottom of the second on a third homerun to right field before the Trojans answered back in the top of the third. Luke Pectol walked to begin the inning and Skyler Trevino would put runners on the corners with a single to right. The runners each moved up a base on a wild pitch prior to a Bernabe hit by pitch and Ty Rhoades single plus advance on error that scored two runs and gave Little Rock a 5-4 advantage.
 
The bottom of the third is where the Eagles did the most damage, the first seven batters of the inning reached base and by the time it had ended Morehead had scored eight times and taken a seven run lead through three.
 
Chance Vaught was able to stymie the MSU offense over the next three innings, allowing just two hits and no runs during that time while striking out five. Alex Seguine reduced the Morehead lead to six with a solo shot in the top of the sixth and Trevino took another step in the comeback attempt with a homerun to right in the top of the seventh, bringing the score to 7-12.
 
Vaught was finally chased from the game on a softly hit double that landed just beyond the infield grass down the third base line and MSU would pick up a run on a bases loaded walk later in the inning to push the lead back to six.
 
Significant progress for the Trojans took place in the top of the eighth when Tyler Williams and Pectol each singled before Baumbach took advantage of the park dimensions and deposited a three run homerun beyond the right field wall, cutting the Morehead lead in half.
 
One more solo long ball by Morehead in the bottom of the frame brought about the final score of 14-10 as Little Rock was unable to complete the comeback in the ninth inning.
 
Baumbach led the Trojans in RBI for the day with four in a 2-for-4 game that saw him hit his 13^th homer of the year.
 
Vaught had his second extended and impressive relief appearance in as many weeks, this time pitching 4.1 innings and striking out eight while scattering six hits and allowing just two runs on 95 pitches out of the bullpen.
 
The Trojans will try and salvage the series tomorrow as well as clinch the number two seed and a double bye in the upcoming OVC tournament. Little Rock is able to become the no. 2 seed with a win of Southeast Missouri loss, Hoss Brewer will take the mound for the start in Saturday's finale.
 
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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