LITTLE ROCK, AR – UALR baseball (13-19, 10-7) fell in the series finale with Texas State (17-17-1, 9-6) by a score of 10-4 on Sunday. UALR won the series on Saturday night by taking two of three games.
Senior Petr Sila was UALR’s best offensive performer as he went 3 for 5 with two RBIs. Junior Kyle Kirk was a close second as he went 3 for 4 and extended his reached base streak to 12 games.
UALR led the game with 14 hits compared to Texas State’s 10.
“We continue to swing the bat well, which is huge because it’s the time of year to start swinging it well,” head coach Chris Curry said.
Texas State got on the board first with two runs in the second inning. After a single by Jared Huber with one out, Ben McElroy hit a two-run homer to right field to give the Bobcats a 2-0 lead.
UALR answered with a run in the bottom of the inning. Jason Prevatt led off the frame by getting hit by pitch. Kyle Barret singled to right field to put two runners on with no outs. Justin Steelmon laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position with one out. James Gillean then hit a sacrifice fly to deep center as Prevatt crossed the plate for the Trojans’ first run.
The Bobcats replied in the top of the third with a solo shot to left by Cedric Vallieres to give Texas State a 3-1 lead.
Texas State’s Luke Sherley walked to begin the fifth inning and advanced to second after Vallieres walked with one out. Both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. With two outs, Tanner Hill was hit by a pitch to load the bases for the Bobcats. Sherley and Vallieres came around to score after Colby Targun singled through the right side to give Texas State a 5-1 lead.
The Bobcats took a commanding 10-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning as they plated five runs on three hits. Brent Mason came on to relieve starter Sam Thoele to begin the inning, but loaded the bases with a single and two walks. With one out and bases loaded, Mason walked home two consecutive runs. Mason’s days came to an early end as Stephen Chandler came out of the bullpen with bases still loaded and one out. Chandler struck out the first batter he faced, but another single by Targun plated two more runs and put runners on the corners. David Paiz batted in the Bobcats’ fifth run of the inning with a single up the middle.
UALR responded in the bottom of the sixth inning by adding a run. With two outs, Steelmon and Gillean walked to bring Sila to the plate. Sila singled to center, but an error by the center fielder allowed Gillean to advance to third while Steelmon scored from second.
Preston Oberling came on in relief to begin the seventh inning and was the Trojans’ pitcher the rest of the way. Oberling pitched three innings and gave up just two hits and two walks.
“Oberling threw three scoreless innings, and we need that in the worst way,” Curry said. “It showed itself today as we’re just short of pitching in the bullpen.”
Down 10-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Kirk singled to left field with one out. Mitchell Scheuler pinch ran for Kirk to put some extra speed on the base paths. Drew Merten singled to center, putting runners on first and second with one out. Sam Vogel pinch hit for Prevatt and sent an RBI single up the middle as Scheuler scored from second.
The Trojans added their final run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Steelmon doubled to left center to lead off the frame before advancing to third on fly out by Gillean. Sila grounded out to second as Steelon scored to make cut the deficit to 10-4.
Scheuler walked to begin the bottom of the ninth but UALR grounded into a double play to end the game.
Ryan Scott pushed his hitting streak to 11 games as he went 2 for 5 for his 13th multiple hit game of the season.
“The theme of 2015 is we’re going to fight you, and we’re not going to go away,” Curry said. “I’m certainly not pleased with the loss, but I have to keep the big picture in mind.”
UALR returns to non-conference action on Tuesday as the Trojans make their way to Columbia, Mo., to face the No. 16 Missouri Tigers.
(Courtesy: UALR Sports Information)
Senior Petr Sila was UALR’s best offensive performer as he went 3 for 5 with two RBIs. Junior Kyle Kirk was a close second as he went 3 for 4 and extended his reached base streak to 12 games.
UALR led the game with 14 hits compared to Texas State’s 10.
“We continue to swing the bat well, which is huge because it’s the time of year to start swinging it well,” head coach Chris Curry said.
Texas State got on the board first with two runs in the second inning. After a single by Jared Huber with one out, Ben McElroy hit a two-run homer to right field to give the Bobcats a 2-0 lead.
UALR answered with a run in the bottom of the inning. Jason Prevatt led off the frame by getting hit by pitch. Kyle Barret singled to right field to put two runners on with no outs. Justin Steelmon laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position with one out. James Gillean then hit a sacrifice fly to deep center as Prevatt crossed the plate for the Trojans’ first run.
The Bobcats replied in the top of the third with a solo shot to left by Cedric Vallieres to give Texas State a 3-1 lead.
Texas State’s Luke Sherley walked to begin the fifth inning and advanced to second after Vallieres walked with one out. Both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. With two outs, Tanner Hill was hit by a pitch to load the bases for the Bobcats. Sherley and Vallieres came around to score after Colby Targun singled through the right side to give Texas State a 5-1 lead.
The Bobcats took a commanding 10-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning as they plated five runs on three hits. Brent Mason came on to relieve starter Sam Thoele to begin the inning, but loaded the bases with a single and two walks. With one out and bases loaded, Mason walked home two consecutive runs. Mason’s days came to an early end as Stephen Chandler came out of the bullpen with bases still loaded and one out. Chandler struck out the first batter he faced, but another single by Targun plated two more runs and put runners on the corners. David Paiz batted in the Bobcats’ fifth run of the inning with a single up the middle.
UALR responded in the bottom of the sixth inning by adding a run. With two outs, Steelmon and Gillean walked to bring Sila to the plate. Sila singled to center, but an error by the center fielder allowed Gillean to advance to third while Steelmon scored from second.
Preston Oberling came on in relief to begin the seventh inning and was the Trojans’ pitcher the rest of the way. Oberling pitched three innings and gave up just two hits and two walks.
“Oberling threw three scoreless innings, and we need that in the worst way,” Curry said. “It showed itself today as we’re just short of pitching in the bullpen.”
Down 10-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Kirk singled to left field with one out. Mitchell Scheuler pinch ran for Kirk to put some extra speed on the base paths. Drew Merten singled to center, putting runners on first and second with one out. Sam Vogel pinch hit for Prevatt and sent an RBI single up the middle as Scheuler scored from second.
The Trojans added their final run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Steelmon doubled to left center to lead off the frame before advancing to third on fly out by Gillean. Sila grounded out to second as Steelon scored to make cut the deficit to 10-4.
Scheuler walked to begin the bottom of the ninth but UALR grounded into a double play to end the game.
Ryan Scott pushed his hitting streak to 11 games as he went 2 for 5 for his 13th multiple hit game of the season.
“The theme of 2015 is we’re going to fight you, and we’re not going to go away,” Curry said. “I’m certainly not pleased with the loss, but I have to keep the big picture in mind.”
UALR returns to non-conference action on Tuesday as the Trojans make their way to Columbia, Mo., to face the No. 16 Missouri Tigers.
(Courtesy: UALR Sports Information)
