LITTLE ROCK- The Little Rock Baseball team completes the first conference sweep of the season behind 3 big late plays. Trojans hold onto sole possession of first place with a 1 game lead heading into the final weekend of conference play.
How It Happened
It was a battle of the pitchers through the first 3 innings as no runs were scored.
Jack Cline threw 5 strikeouts through the first 4 frames. The Trojans were able to strike first with a solo shot from
Nico Baumbach in the bottom of the fourth to grab a 1-run lead.
It would be radio silence until USI took the lead in the top of the sixth inning with a 2-run inning. The Screaming Eagles plated an insurance run in the top of the eighth to push the score to 1-3.
Jake Wright answered in the home half of the eighth with a solo home run to cut the lead in half.
Heading into the ninth inning, the Trojans trailed 2-3. In the top half of the inning,
Jacob Weatherley sat two straight batters down swinging. USI was able to get one player on base and in scoring position after a base hit and a stolen base. It seemed like the Screaming Eagles were going to plate a run, but
Luke Pectol threw him out at home plate after a great hustle play from
Jake Wright.
In the bottom half of the inning,
Nico Baumbach got it started with a leadoff double.
Tyler Williams then moved him over to third with a single to centerfield.
Ben Harmon tied it up by bringing
Nico Baumbach home with an RBI single to centerfield forcing the game extra innings.
The tenth inning got off to a rocky start as USI was able to load the bases. The screaming Eagles worked an RBI walk with bases loaded to take a 4-3 lead. With bases loaded again,
Jacob Weatherley threw his fourth strikeout to sit down the side. It seemed like all the momentum was on the side of USI after a leadoff strikeout in the bottom half of the inning. After his heroic walk off 2 RBI double yesterday,
Luke Pectol stepped to the plate calm, cool, and collected and smoked a 370 foot home run over the right field wall to tie the game. USI was able to grab the second out of the inning before
Tyler Williams stepped to the plate and earned a walk then stole second. All eyes were on the red hot
Christian Bernabe as he stepped to the plate. Bernabe put the ball in play with a checked swing right to the pitcher who lobbed it over the first baseman's glove allowing
Tyler Williams to go from second to home for the win.
Key Players
