LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Even when Little Rock gave up a big lead, they never got flustered Thursday night against Western Illinois. The Trojans jumped to a commanding 5-0 lead after two innings but trailed 6-5 heading into the bottom of the sixth. However, a four-run burst in the bottom of the sixth gave the lead back and the Trojans (17-19, 6-6 OVC) survived, 10-8. The win marks the seventh consecutive victory and continues a big week after an upset at Ole Miss on Tuesday.
"We never panicked," Little Rock head coach
Chris Curry said. "We didn't panic last Friday at Morehead State, and we didn't panic at Ole Miss Tuesday. We have given up some leads this season, and I think we have learned from that."
After the Leathernecks (10-23, 4-9) scored six runs in the sixth to take a 6-5 lead, the Trojans went to work.
Ty Rhoades, who was 3-for-4, drove in
Alex Seguine to tie the game. The go-ahead run scored on a wild pitch, and then
Cooper Chaplain, the hero of the Ole Miss upset, smoked a drive over the right field wall into the trees with a man on to make it a 9-6 lead.
"This is just a dream come true," Chaplain said. "This is what you dream about as a kid – playing Division I baseball. I am just glad to be playing with these guys."
WIU did cut into the lead in the eighth with two runs to make it 9-8, but Little Rock scored on a throwing error in the bottom half of the frame to add insurance.
Reliever
Hunter Royal got the first batter in the ninth to ground out, but had to work around a base hit and a balk but fanned the final two batters to pick up the save – his first of the season.
Starter
Jackson Wells threw over 90 pitchers in five scoreless innings. He gave up five hits, struck out six and walked two. The ace of the staff battled a blister that shortened his start at Morehead State last week.
Gage Haley (2-0) notched the win with 1.2 innings of work. He gave up four hits and struck out two.
The Trojans struck first in the opening frame as Rhoades drove in
Ryan Geck. The second run scored on a wild pitch and
Angel Cano capped the scoring with an RBI single.
Little Rock added to the 3-0 lead in the second as
Reed Willbanks led off with a triple and Seguine followed with a triple scoring Willbanks. Geck, then hit a sacrifice fly that scored Seguine.
The two teams meet for the second game of the series at 4 p.m., Friday at Gary Hogan Field. The final game is slated for 1 p.m.
