This is inning-by-inning live updates as the University of Arkansas-Little Rock baseball team faces Troy in Game 1 of the NCAA Troy (Ala.) Super Regional at Riddle-Pace Field. The winner of the best-of-three series will advance to the College World Series at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb.
FIFTH INNING
UALR
Nothing doing for UALR in the fifth as Jerdy Lopez lined out to third, Kade Smith fouled out to the first baseman and Nolan Freund grounded out to shortstop. Troy leads 6-2.
FOURTH INNING
TROY
Troy had chance to add to its lead in the bottom of the fourth but came up empty. With one out, Houston Markham doubled to left. UALR then elected to bring in reliever Gage Haley, who got Aaron Piasecki and Josh Pyne to ground out. Troy leads 6-2.
UALR
UALR threatened in the fourth but could not score. After Angel Cano grounded out to third and Ty Rhoades struck out, Trey Hill ripped a double to deep right field. But Cooper Chaplain then flied out to center. Troy leads 6-2.
THIRD INNING
TROY
Troy pushed its lead back to four runs in the bottom of the third. With one out, Steven Meier picked up his second hit, a single to center. He then stole second base, advanced to third on UALR catcher Trey Hill’s throwing error and scored on Drew Nelson’s groundout to first. Sean Darnell grounded out to the mound to end the inning. Troy leads 6-2.
UALR
UALR cut into its deficit with a run in the third inning. Jerdy Lopez led off with a double and Kade Smith followed with a single to put runners at first and third. After Nolan Freund struck out, Blake Simpson grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Lopez. Nico Baumbach then grounded out. Troy leads 5-2.
SECOND INNING
TROY
Troy took the lead with five runs in the bottom of the second. Steven Meier led off with a single and scored on Drew Nelson’s triple to right. Nelson scored on Sean Darnell’s sacrifice fly to left. After Houston Markham’s two-out single, Aaron Piasecki and Josh Pyne hit back-to-back home runs. Blake Cavill then flied out to left to end the rally. Troy leads 5-1.
UALR
Angel Cano leads off the second for UALR with a single to right. But the threat ended there as Ty Roades and Trey Hill each struck out and Cooper Chaplain grounded out to the pitcher. UALR leads 1-0.
FIRST INNING
TROY
After UALR starting pitcher Brannon Westmoreland struck out the first two batters he faced, Troy’s Blake Cavill drew a two-out walk. But Jimmy Janicki grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the inning. UALR leads 1-0.
UALR
UALR took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Kade Smith laced a one-out double down the left-field line and moved to third on Nolan Freund’s groundout. Smith then scored on a two-out infield single by Blake Simpson. Nico Baumbauch grounded out to shortstop to end the top of the first.
– Steve Rogers
SCHEDULED GAME TIME
The first game in the best-of-three series between the University of Arkansas-Little Rock and Troy University begins at 4 p.m. Central Friday at Riddle-Pace Field in Troy, Ala. The winner of the series advances to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.
RECORDS
UALR: 39-26
Troy: 36-30
STREAKS
UALR: Won 8
Troy: Won 4
LAST MEETING
UALR defeated Troy 10-6 in their last meeting on April 3, 2022.
TELEVISION
The game will be televised by the ESPNU cable network. The ESPNU broadcast will feature announcer Clay Matvick and Lance Cormier on the call.
RADIO
The game will be broadcast on 106.7 The Buz2.
— Jesse Cain
Check back for live updates, scores.