UALR Falls To Southeast Missouri, 4-3

Courtesy University of Arkansas at Little Rock Athletics Department

LITTLE ROCK – The UALR baseball team (9-4) dropped the second game of a two-game midweek series against the Southeast Missouri Redhawks (8-6) by a score of 4-3 on Wednesday from Gary Hogan Field. The loss wrapped up a 13-game home stand for the Trojans, who won seven of their last nine games during that stint.

Sophomore starting pitcher Cameron Allen allowed four hits and two earned runs in his three innings pitched, while sophomore pitcher Matt Brown was tagged with his first loss of the season. Offensively, the Trojans were paced by senior who went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Junior Austin Pfeiffer and seniors Blake Johnson and John Clark each recorded one hit and one RBI, rounding out the offensive highs for the Trojans. Chris Burk

After a scoreless first inning of play, Southeast Missouri plated two runs in the top of the second inning thanks in large part to four consecutive singles off Allen in the frame. Allen was able to get out of the inning with the bases loaded after inducing a line-out, but the Redhawks’ damage was done.

More troublesome for UALR on the afternoon was Southeast Missouri’s starting pitcher, Trevor Kill. Through five innings, Kill held the Trojans scoreless and scattered two base hits, helping Southeast Missouri take a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.

Instead of riding the hot hand of Kill, the Redhawks elected to turn the ball over to relief pitcher Luke Shearrow. UALR quickly made Southeast Missouri regret that decision as the Trojans feasted on the fresh arm out of the bullpen. A lead-off single by Burk, a walk by junior Sam Vogel, and a bunt single by junior Ben Crumpton loaded the bases with nobody out in the inning. After a pitching change, Pfeiffer ripped an RBI-single through the left side of the infield, plating Burk for the UALR’s first run of the afternoon. Johnson followed with an RBI-sacrifice fly to left center that advanced Crumpton to third base and scored Vogel. Another RBI-sacrifice fly, this time by Clark, scored Crumpton and evened the score at three runs apiece heading into seventh inning.

The score didn’t remain tied for long, however, as Southeast Missouri struck back with one run in the top half of the seventh. With runners on the corners and one out, Southeast Missouri’s Dalton Hewitt pushed a bunt towards the first base line. Clark fielded the ball and attempted to gun down the runner at the plate, but his throw sailed wide of Johnson, and the Redhawks regained a 4-3 lead.

Four runs would be all Southeast Missouri needed as the Redhawks’ combination of Skylar Cobb, Thomas Tyler, and Bobby Hurst blanked the Trojans over the final three innings of the game. UALR had a chance to take the lead with two outs and runners on second and third in the eighth, but a pop-fly off the bat of Clark ended the threat.

UALR returns to action Friday, March 8 when they travel to Clarksville, Tenn. for three games in the Austin Peay Riverview Inn Classic. For the Trojans, Friday’s contest against Creighton will be the first road game of the 2013 season. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.