Trojans use big fourth inning to get past Belmont, 6-3

A four-run fourth inning and a sparkling pitching performance from Jack Cline helped Little Rock to a 6-3-win Sunday afternoon at Gary Hogan Field. The win snapped a six-game losing skid.
"We have all been in a tough place, and this game will test you like life," Little Rock skipper Chris Curry said. "We had to answer a lot of questions about what we were doing every day and how we were going about it, and we didn't stop working. This is one win in a long journey, and we haven't started conference play. I realize that.

"But no one has been more upset, disappointed mad and angry the last seven to days than this baseball team, but I do want to commend them for their toughness and attitude. We haven't had any toxicity or negativity toward each other. We told them not to look at the scoreboard and only how they are playing the game and what they are doing – the execution. That's what we did today."
Cline gave up six hits, walked three and struck out five in six innings while picking up the win. The Joe T. Robinson alum gave up three earned runs in the seventh inning and was replaced by Hunter Royal, who got out of the jam and pitched two innings striking out five. Preston Davis notched the save pitching a scoreless ninth inning.

After Ryan Geck singled in Reed Wilbanks in the third inning, the Trojans (6-9) were looking for more in the fourth. Alex Seguine walked with one out and Ty Rhoades followed with another walk. Kade Goeke bunted for a hit loading the bases. Willbanks then hit a shallow fly ball to right field that was caught, and Seguine tagged up. 

The throw beat him to home plate, but he did his best avoid Belmont catcher Mike Sprockett, who fell on to the plate as Seguine lunged to touch it after whirling to avoid Sprockett the first time. The umpire called Seguine out which would have ended the inning. However, after a video review, the call was overturned, and Little Rock led 2-0. 
Then, Cooper Chaplain promptly doubled, driving home Goeke, who was 2-for-3, and Rhoades.

The Trojans capped their scoring in the sixth inning when Willbanks' single plated Rhoades and Seguine. 
The Bears threatened in the seventh when Cline gave up two hits and walked one loading the bases. Three runs scored, but Royal got out of the inning without yielding any more runs thanks to three strikeouts, including fanning the first batter he faced.

Belmont(4-12) couldn't put anything together the final two innings accumulating just two hits combined. The Trojans banged out 12 hits. Wilbanks was 3-for-3 with 3 RBI. Seguine collected two hits and scored three runs. 
Cline helped himself with a big defensive play that ended a Belmont threat in the fourth when he fielded a comebacker and threw home for the second out and catcher Cade Martin fired to Angel Cano at first to complete the double play. 

"I knew that was a big moment," Cline said. "We had scored in the third and getting that shut-down inning there was big time. … I saw that ground ball, and I knew we had a chance for two."
It will be a busy week for the Trojans as they try to put together a winning streak playing at Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday afternoon and then hosting the Golden Lions on Wednesday afternoon before heading to Texas-Arlington for a three-game set starting on Friday. 
"I think {Sunday's win] was just a reset, and now we go," Goeke said. "We are ready to be playing again soon and keeping this momentum."