Little Rock (8-7) secured a 7-2 victory over Central Arkansas (9-7) on Sunday at Gary Hogan Field, using an 11-hit offensive performance and a key three-run sixth inning to clinch the win.
Zach Busick delivered a strong start, pitching six innings while allowing four hits and two earned runs. He struck out six and walked three over 85 pitches, 48 of which were strikes.
Gage Haley followed with an impressive relief outing, tossing the final three innings without allowing a run. Haley surrendered just two hits while striking out three to secure the save.
"Really proud of our club. We've been struggling lately, and I hope this weekend is indicative of who we're going to be," head coach
Chris Curry said. "Zach did an incredible job. I hope this is a building block to his career as a starter. He worked through the first inning and stayed calm for us. Later, with some traffic, he punched out their best player. We were able to push ahead with some great baserunning and hits in key spots later in the game."
Central Arkansas grabbed an early lead in the first inning with a two-run double, but Little Rock answered immediately.
Ty Rhoades delivered a two-RBI single to right field, scoring
Cade Martin and
Easton Roe to tie the game at 2-2 after the opening frame.
Little Rock took the lead in the second inning.
Jerdy Lopez singled and advanced to third on a single by
Kade Smith before Martin drove him home with an RBI single, giving the Trojans a 3-2 advantage.
After several quiet innings, the Trojans broke the game open in the sixth. Smith doubled to score Lopez, Martin followed with an RBI double to bring home Smith, and Roe added an RBI single to extend the lead to 6-2.
Little Rock added an insurance run in the eighth inning when Smith walked, stole second base, and scored on an RBI double by
Angel Cano to make it 7-2.
The Trojans' defense and pitching closed the door from there to secure the victory.
Smith led the offense with two hits, including a double, while scoring twice and driving in a run. Lopez also scored twice and added a stolen base, while Martin collected two hits, including a double, and drove in two runs.
Little Rock returns to action Tuesday when it hosts Arkansas State at 3 p.m. CT at Gary Hogan Field.
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