Red Wolves Explode Late to Finish Off Little Rock, 12-5
Arkansas State broke open a tight game with six runs in the ninth inning to defeat Little Rock 12-5 on Tuesday afternoon at Gary Hogan Field.
The Red Wolves improved to 13-5, while the Trojans dropped to 8-8.
Arkansas State struck first when Ashton Quiller led off the game with a home run to deep left field, his fourth of the season and his second leadoff homer this year.
Little Rock responded in the bottom of the second inning, stringing together four consecutive hits to score three runs and take a 3-1 lead. Kole Turner exited after 1 1/3 innings, and Ryan Ashford entered in relief to settle the game.
Ashford tossed three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and keeping the Red Wolves within reach. Arkansas State trimmed the deficit to 3-2 in the fourth when Cross Jumper doubled and later scored on an infield error.
The Red Wolves regained the lead in the fifth inning. After Kaden Amundson drew an eight-pitch walk, Quiller doubled off the wall in right-center to tie the game. Lane Walton was intentionally walked before Evan Griffis delivered a three-run home run to left-center, pushing Arkansas State ahead 6-3.
Little Rock added single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to close within one, but Arkansas State put the game away in the ninth.
Back-to-back walks opened the inning before a throwing error allowed the first run to score. With the bases loaded, Walton singled to center to drive in two runs. Patrick Engskov followed with an RBI double to right-center, and Griffis added a two-run double to extend the lead to 12-5.
Cooper Garrison worked the final three innings to earn his second save of the season, striking out three and allowing one run.
Griffis finished 2 for 4 with five RBIs, including a home run and a double. Quiller went 2 for 4 with three runs scored and a home run. Arkansas State totaled nine hits and did not commit an error.
Ashford earned the win to improve to 2-0. Blake Van Cleeve took the loss for Little Rock.
Arkansas State opens Sun Belt Conference play Friday at home against No. 7 Southern Miss. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
By the Numbers
12 — Runs scored by Arkansas State
6 — Runs scored in the ninth inning
9 — Total hits for the Red Wolves
5 — RBIs by Evan Griffis
3 — Runs scored by Ashton Quiller
2 — Home runs by Arkansas State (Quiller, Griffis)
3.0 — Scoreless innings pitched by Ryan Ashford
3 — Strikeouts by Cooper Garrison in his three-inning save
4-for-13 — Arkansas State with runners in scoring position
0 — Errors committed by the Red Wolves
13-5 — Arkansas State’s overall record
389 — Attendance at Gary Hogan Field