LITTLE ROCK, AR – UALR baseball (9-13, 6-4) recorded its fourth walk-off win of the season with a safety squeeze in the bottom of the ninth inning to take a 4-3 win over Appalachian State (7-20, 2-9) on Saturday.
Unitl Saturday, UALR had never started conference play with a 6-4 record, including when it was a member of the Trans America Athletic Conference from 1981 to 1991.
Saturday’s walk-off win over the Mountaineers comes on the heels of a walk-off win on Friday night. All four of UALR’s conference wins at home this season have come on walk-off hits in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Down 3-0 to begin the ninth inning, the Trojans got a leadoff single down the left field line by Tanner Rockwell. On five pitches, Kyle Kirk walked to put runners on first and second with no outs. This prompted Appalachian State to go to the bullpen for the first time, replacing starter Jeffrey Springs. Springs was looking for the complete game shutout, but his day was done as Caleb McCann came on in relief after 123 pitches.
Justin Steelmon came on to pinch run for Kirk after the walk and advanced to second after Drew Merten grounded out to the pitcher, putting both runners in scoring position with one out. After giving up a five-pitch walk to James Gillean load the bases, McCann was replaced by Robert Whaley after just 0.1 innings on the mound.
With a 1-1 count, Mitchell Scheuler hit an infield single to third, scoring Rockwell for the Trojans first run. UALR called on Petr Sila to pinch hit, and what a decision it was as he hit a single to right to score Gillean and Steelmon to tie the game at 3-3.
With runners on the corners, Jason Prevatt stepped into the box with one out. On the very first pitch, Prevatt laid a bunt down the first base line to successfully pull off the safety squeeze as Scheuler crossed the plate for the game-winning run.
“What a great call by Coach Russell Raley to call the squeeze with Prevatt at the plate,” head coach Chris Curry said. “We practice that situation all the time.”
UALR trailed early after a dropped fly ball with two outs in the second inning opened the doors for Appalachian State to score three runs.
Sophomore starter Cory Malcom almost went the distance by pitching 8.0 innings and giving up just three hits, three unearned runs and a walk.
After 107 pitches, Dyllon Brownmiller took over for Malcom to begin the top of the ninth. Brownmiller didn’t allow a runner to get on base and struck out one in his only inning of work.
“We were able to execute things that we have been working on,” Curry said. “That’s important for them because practice can get monotonous to a player, and now they see how you can win a game with it.”
After winning the series on Saturday, UALR will go for the series sweep against Appalachian State on Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. at Gary Hogan Field.
(Courtesy: UALR Sports Information)
Unitl Saturday, UALR had never started conference play with a 6-4 record, including when it was a member of the Trans America Athletic Conference from 1981 to 1991.
Saturday’s walk-off win over the Mountaineers comes on the heels of a walk-off win on Friday night. All four of UALR’s conference wins at home this season have come on walk-off hits in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Down 3-0 to begin the ninth inning, the Trojans got a leadoff single down the left field line by Tanner Rockwell. On five pitches, Kyle Kirk walked to put runners on first and second with no outs. This prompted Appalachian State to go to the bullpen for the first time, replacing starter Jeffrey Springs. Springs was looking for the complete game shutout, but his day was done as Caleb McCann came on in relief after 123 pitches.
Justin Steelmon came on to pinch run for Kirk after the walk and advanced to second after Drew Merten grounded out to the pitcher, putting both runners in scoring position with one out. After giving up a five-pitch walk to James Gillean load the bases, McCann was replaced by Robert Whaley after just 0.1 innings on the mound.
With a 1-1 count, Mitchell Scheuler hit an infield single to third, scoring Rockwell for the Trojans first run. UALR called on Petr Sila to pinch hit, and what a decision it was as he hit a single to right to score Gillean and Steelmon to tie the game at 3-3.
With runners on the corners, Jason Prevatt stepped into the box with one out. On the very first pitch, Prevatt laid a bunt down the first base line to successfully pull off the safety squeeze as Scheuler crossed the plate for the game-winning run.
“What a great call by Coach Russell Raley to call the squeeze with Prevatt at the plate,” head coach Chris Curry said. “We practice that situation all the time.”
UALR trailed early after a dropped fly ball with two outs in the second inning opened the doors for Appalachian State to score three runs.
Sophomore starter Cory Malcom almost went the distance by pitching 8.0 innings and giving up just three hits, three unearned runs and a walk.
After 107 pitches, Dyllon Brownmiller took over for Malcom to begin the top of the ninth. Brownmiller didn’t allow a runner to get on base and struck out one in his only inning of work.
“We were able to execute things that we have been working on,” Curry said. “That’s important for them because practice can get monotonous to a player, and now they see how you can win a game with it.”
After winning the series on Saturday, UALR will go for the series sweep against Appalachian State on Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. at Gary Hogan Field.
(Courtesy: UALR Sports Information)
