LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (5/15/14) – The Arkansas State baseball team rallied late and threatened in the ninth inning, but fell short as UALR defeated the Red Wolves 5-2 Thursday night at Gary Hogan Field in Little Rock, Ark.

Trailing 4-1 in the top of the eighth inning, A-State (29-24, 17-11 SBC) cut the lead to 4-2 after Matt Burgess singled to plate Austin Baker, who reached and advanced to second base on an error when UALR's left fielder and shortstop collided in shallow left field.  After a UALR (24-28, 10-18) pitching change, Joe Schrimpf walked with two outs to put runners on first and second, but pinch-hitter Ty Michelotti struck out to quell the A-State threat.

UALR added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth after hitting four straight singles to begin the inning, the last two being infield hits to stretch the lead to 5-2.  Coulton Lee relieved Colton Kibler with one out and the bases loaded in the inning and retired the first batter he faced on a strikeout and got a fly out to end the Trojans' threat.

In the top of the ninth, A-State's Lucas Feddersen lined a single into right center field and Dustin Jones laced a double into right field to put runners on second and third with no outs, but the Trojans turned the ball over to Tanner Rockwell and he retired the next three A-State hitters to record his seventh save and clinch the 5-2 victory for UALR.

David Owen took the loss for A-State after tossing five innings, allowing three runs (all earned) on four hits with seven strikeouts and one walk.  Travis McDonald earned the win for UALR as he went seven and one-third innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits with one walk and three strikeouts.

Burgess and Feddersen led A-State with two hits each and Burgess drove in both A-State runs.  Rockwell had three hits and two RBI's on a home run to lead the Trojans.

After a hour and 15 minute rain delay, the Red Wolves jumped on UALR's starter McDonald in the top of the first after Tanner Ring was hit by a pitch with two outs in the inning and Burgess followed with a double down the right field line to plate Ring for a 1-0 lead.

UALR began the bottom of the second inning with a leadoff double by Rockwell and he advanced to third with two outs after a groundout to first base.  The Trojans tied the game 1-1 after Drew Merten drove Rockwell in with an infield hit to shortstop with two outs in the inning, but Owen got a foul popup to shortstop to end the inning.

Owen walked UALR's Ben Crumpton to begin the bottom of the fourth and the next batter Rockwell made him pay with a two-run home run over the wall in right-center field to give the Trojans a 3-1 lead.  Owen recovered to retire UALR in order after the homer and kept the deficit at two runs.

Kibler relieved Owen in the bottom of the sixth inning and gave up a leadoff double and walked the next hitter to put himself in a jam right out of the gate.  After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third with one out, Justin Steelmon extended UALR's lead to 4-1 on a sacrifice fly to right field.  Kibler retired the next Trojan batter to keep the A-State deficit at 4-1.