LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – Little Rock scored four runs in the sixth inning, all with two outs, and the Trojans were able to hold on to defeat App State 7-4, and even the series at a game apiece.
With the Trojans (11-9, 1-4) ahead 3-2 in the sixth inning,
Caleb Cross took over for
Xander Hamilton with the bases loaded and one out. Cross fanned the first batter he faced, and was one strike away from getting out of the inning when Noah Dickerson came through with an RBI double to score a pair. Canyon McWilliams followed with a two-run single, and Little Rock widened their advantage to 7-2.
Hamilton struck out six in 5.1 innings of work to increase his season total to 57 on the season. He has recorded at least six strikeouts in every start this year.
The Mountaineers (8-13, 2-3) responded in the seventh inning.
Dylan Rogers cracked a leadoff double, and
Andrew Greckel followed with a walk, with Rogers advancing to third on a wild pitch. After the Trojans turned to their bullpen,
Hayden Cross came through with an RBI single to get a run back.
Andrew Terrell then reached on an error to load the bases, and
Luke Drumheller plated a second run with a sac fly to make it 7-4. However, App State couldn't tack on anything more at the plate, and stranded the tying run on base.
App State took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Rogers was hit by a pitch with one out, and Greckel followed with a single to center.
Hayden Cross them plated a run with an RBI groundout. He finished the game with two RBIs.
After falling behind 2-1, the Mountaineers struck again in the fourth inning on a
Braxton Church RBI single to score Terrell, who singled to lead off the frame and advanced to second on a groundout. The hit was the first of Church's career.
The rubber game of the three-game set is set for Sunday at 1 P.M. and will be broadcast on ESPN+. The 2022 App State Baseball season is presented by Chick-fil-A.
