MARION, Ill. – Little Rock jumped out to an early three-run lead Thursday afternoon, but regular-season champion SIUE rallied back to hand the Trojans a 4-3 loss in the winner's bracket of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament at Mtn Dew Park.

The Trojans dropped to 31-26 overall and will play Lindenwood tonight at 8 in a loser's bracket game of the double-elimination format.

"We don't look at it as a one, two or three starter, but our Saturday starter Brigden Parker, will pitch tonight and be sharp," Curry said. "Our bullpen is still fresh, so that is a plus."

The game will be aired on 103.7 the Buzz and streamed on  ESPN+.

If Little Rock wins, they'd play Friday at 1 p.m. with the winner of that game set to play at 4:30 p.m. The 1 p.m. game was scheduled for 3 p.m., but the league announced late Thursday afternoon that they moved Friday's early games up due to forecasted rain in the area. 

Lindenwood had to enter the double-elimination portion of the tournament by beating UT-Martin Tuesday. The Lions won 7-4 on a grand slam home run. On Wednesday, No. 3 seeded SEMO edged them 2-1. 

Little Rock won the opener of a road series against the Lions last month, but fell in the final two games – 3-2 and 3-0. Parker pitched 4.2 innings in the second game giving up just two hits and striking out five. 

On Thursday afternoon against the Cougars, Little Rock struck first with a three-run second inning. Nico Baumbach delivered the big hit with a two-run single up the middle that scored Blake Simpson and Nolan Freund. Later in the inning, Jerdy Lopez added an RBI single to center to plate Baumbach and extend the lead to 3-0.

The Trojans collected nine hits in the game and were led by Freund, who finished 3-for-4. Lopez added two hits and an RBI, while Baumbach drove in two runs.

SIUE answered in the fourth inning, tying the game with three runs. Sean Kang started the rally with an RBI single before Gage Franck lined a two-run triple to left center to even the score at 3-3.

The Cougars took its first lead in the sixth inning when Franck delivered another RBI triple, this time to right center, scoring Mack Mitchell to make it 4-3.

Little Rock threatened late but could not push across the tying run against SIUE relievers Joseph Martin and Easton Harris, who recorded his league-leading 12th save.

Nic Bronzini started for the Trojans and worked four innings, allowing three runs while striking out six. Gage Haley provided a strong effort out of the bullpen, tossing four innings and allowing just one run while striking out four.