Little Rock (8-8) fell to Arkansas State (13-5) by a final score of 12-5 on Tuesday at Gary Hogan Field. Arkansas State used a six-run surge in the ninth inning to pull away and secure the victory.
"You just saw why one team is 8-8, and the other is 13-5. It's a very clear contrast – right now. They [Arkansas State] did what good teams do … executing on our mistakes," head coach Chris Curry said. "We take one step forward and one step back, because we don't do the fundamental things correctly yet. But we will. We have good players, and they're talented. I have no question that we will."
Arkansas State took an early lead in the first inning on a solo home run. Little Rock responded in the second inning when Angel Cano and Ty Rhoades each singled, setting up Nico Baumbach's two-run double. Jake McClure followed with an RBI double, pushing Little Rock ahead 3-1 through two innings.
Arkansas State closed the gap in the fourth, scoring an unearned run after a Little Rock error to make it 3-2. The Red Wolves then took control in the fifth inning with a four-run outburst, giving the visitors a 6-3 lead.
Little Rock attempted a comeback in the sixth inning. Easton Roe tripled and later scored on a groundout by Cano, trimming the deficit to 6-4. In the seventh, Jerdy Lopez singled and advanced on a sacrifice by Austin Coyle before scoring on Cade Martin's groundout, cutting the score to 6-5.
However, Arkansas State pulled away in the ninth inning, capitalizing on a throwing error and a series of hits to score six runs and extend its lead to 12-5.
Nic Bronzini started for Little Rock, pitching 3.1 innings while striking out four and allowing four hits and one earned run.Â
Offensively, Baumbach finished with two RBIs and a double. Roe added a triple and scored a run, while Rhoades recorded two hits. Cano also collected two hits, driving in one run and scoring once.
Little Rock returns to action Friday, traveling to face Samford at 6 p.m. in Birmingham, Ala., in the opener of a three-game series.
