Little Rock, Lindenwood split doubleheader following 72-hour delay

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Following a weather-related delay of three days, Little Rock and Lindenwood were finally able to take the field Monday for their Ohio Valley Conference series at Gary Hogan Field. The teams split a doubleheader, with the visiting Lions taking the opener, 14-2, and the Trojans responding with a 13-6 victory in the finale.
 
Little Rock improved to 11-19 overall and 2-6 in OVC play while Lindenwood moved to 15-16 and 5-3 in conference. The Trojans will head to Central Arkansas on Wednesday for a 3 pm first pitch in the second game of their Governor's I-40 Showdown against the Bears.
--
 
GAME 1 – Lindenwood 14, Little Rock 2
 
The Trojans fell behind early in the opening game and were unable to climb back into the game after Lindenwood built a 5-1 lead after three innings and 13-1 after five. Ty Rhoades went 3-for-3 at the plate while Jackson Rains and Reed Willbanks each drove in a run. Alex Seguine reached base twice with a single and a walk.
 
On the mound, Jackson Wells started and went 3.1 innings, giving up nine hits and seven runs while striking out three. Robert Bavon worked a scoreless inning in relief, as did Zach Busick. Noah Burkey went two innings, giving up a single unearned run. Over the final four frames, Little Rock pitchers combined to allow just three hits while striking out three.
--
 
GAME 2 – Little Rock 13, Lindenwood 6
 
The Trojans bounced back in the finale, opening the game up early with a 7-run second innings. Lindenwood trimmed the Trojan lead from 8-0 to 8-5, but Little Rock countered with three runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth of a seven-inning contest.
 
The Trojans put together their second-highest hit total with 17 base knocks in just six frames. Three of those went for extra bases. Cooper Chaplain went 4-for-4 at the dish, including his first home run of the season. Chaplain scored all four times he reached base.
 
Cade Martin drove in a career-best five runs on three hits, Seguine drove in three and Ryan Geck had two hits to drive in a pair. Nine different players had at least one hit for Little Rock and seven players crossed home plate. Jayce Blalock also had a pair of hits.
 
On the hill, Jack Cline picked up his fifth win of the season, going five strong innings with six strikeouts and no walks while allowing just one earned run. Blake Van Cleve tossed the final two frames, giving up just a pair of hits and an unearned run.