CONWAY, Ark. — Little Rock scored in six different innings and the Trojans got some solid pitching in key moments to earn a 9-6 win over Central Arkansas on Wednesday at Bear Stadium, clinching the Governor's I-40 Showdown series for a third straight season. Little Rock (12-19) won its first series since opening the season with a three-game sweep of Evansville.
The series finale with the Bears (12-19) is scheduled for Tuesday, May 6 at Gary Hogan Field in Little Rock. The Trojans have now won seven of their last eight against their in-state rivals, including four in a row in Conway.
Little Rock got on the board in the second inning and led 4-2 before the Bears roared back with a three-run sixth to take a 5-4 lead, but the hosts wouldn't lead again.
Alex Seguine tripled in the seventh and cleared the bases to give the Trojans a 7-5 lead it wouldn't surrender, then added a run in each of the final two frames.
Malcolm Brown picked up his first win of the season, throwing the final 3.2 innings and striking out five while allowing just three hits, one run and no walks.
Gage Haley got the start and threw three scoreless innings with three strikeouts, and
Hunter Royal had two key innings of relief work. Little Rock pitchers rang up 10 strikeouts and gave away just three free passes.
Ty Rhoades,
Kade Goeke and
Cooper Chaplain each had three hits and
Sammy Harris finished with a pair. Seguine and Harris each drove in three runs. Harris also walked twice to reach base safely four times in the contest. Rhoades, Goeke and
Cade Martin each scored twice. After Seguine put the Trojans in front, Chaplain came through with an RBI double in the eighth and
Andrew Pickering subbed in the ninth to deliver an RBI double.
The Trojans pick up Ohio Valley Conference play this weekend, making the long trek to Kentucky to face Morehead State April 11-13. Game 1 is scheduled for 6 pm on Friday.
