SDSU COMEBACK FALLS SHORT AT LITTLE ROCK

Sunday, February 19

Little Rock, Ark.

1 p.m.

South Dakota State University

1-2

Little Rock

2-1

South Dakota State

Little Rock

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia

2/19/2023 5:41:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Little Rock took the lead with a four-run third inning and survived a South Dakota State comeback bid for a 7-6 victory in the decisive game of a three-game college baseball series Sunday afternoon at Gary Hogan Field.

With the one-run victory, Little Rock improved to 2-1 on the young season. SDSU dropped to 1-2 overall.

Noah Brewer's second run-scoring double of the game plated the first two runs of the third inning against Jackrabbit starter Brady Hawkins. Brewer later scored on a single by Skyler Trevino and Trevino came across for the final run of the frame on an RBI double by Jake Wright.

The Trojans, who scored in three of the first four innings, built their lead to 6-2 on a sacrifice fly by Brewer in the bottom of the fourth.

SDSU cut the deficit in half on a two-run home run by Drew Beazley in the top of the fifth, but Trevino answered with a solo homer in the seventh — his second round-tripper of the series — to push the Little Rock lead back to three runs at 7-4.

Luke Ira's two-run homer in the eighth brought the Jackrabbits to within a run, and SDSU put together a two-out rally in the ninth to place the tying run in scoring position as pinch-hitter Reece Anderson singled and advanced to third base on a single by Ryan McDonald. However, Little Rock closer Lukas Frers got Nic Nelson to fly out to right field to end the game.

The two squads traded first-inning runs as McDonald led off the game with a base hit, stole second and later scored on a wild pitch. Ben Harmon scored the Trojans' first run after notching a one-out single.

The Jackrabbits took a momentary 2-1 lead in the top of the third after Nelson drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on Cade Stuff's single to right field. SDSU left a man on base in every inning and stranded 14 runners in the contest.

Hawkins suffered his first career loss after surrendering five runs on six hits with a pair of strikeouts over 2 2/3 innings. Freshman Jack Kruger added 2 2/3 innings of one-run baseball in relief as the right-hander struck out two and walked two in his collegiate debut.

Jess Bellows was 3-for-5, including a pair of doubles, to pace the Jackrabbits' 12-hit attack. McDonald, Beazley and Dawson Parry each tallied two hits.

Little Rock also posted 12 hits in the contest and was led by Alex Seguine's three hits. Brewer was one of four Trojans with a pair of hits as he ended the day with four runs batted in.

Austin Stubber picked up his second win of the series as he allowed two runs in two innings of relief. Four Trojan pitchers combined to strike out seven and walk eight Jackrabbit hitters.

UP NEXT
The Jackrabbits return to action Friday, opening a three-game neutral-site series against George Mason in Lexington, South Carolina. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. Eastern Time (2 p.m. Central) at Lexington County Baseball Stadium.

NOTES

Little Rock leads the all-time series, 6-3
McDonald reached base for the 36^th consecutive game dating back to last March
The Jackrabbits hit five home runs in the series — one solo, three two-run homers and a grand slam
SDSU has homered in 29 of its last 31 games dating back to last season
Of the Jackrabbits' 26 hits in the series, 12 were for extra bases (seven doubles, five home runs)
Ira's home run was the 16^th of his career
McDonald threw out two runners attempting to steal