March 24, 2002
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Leftfielder John Gragg went 3-for-5 at the plate to lead Arkansas-Little Rock past Western Kentucky, 7-3, in the finale of a three-game conference series Sunday at Curran Conway Park. The win is the Trojans (15-13, 2-1 Sun Belt) second-straight, while the Hilltoppers (15-8, 1-2 Sun Belt) have now dropped their last two after winning Friday's opener.
WKU began the scoring in the top of the fourth inning when Tanner Townsend (Sr., London, Ky.) hit a lead-off double down the left-field line. Two batters later, Nick Turner (Sr., Louisville, Ky.) brought Townsend home with an RBI double to left, and later scored on a Patrick Ransdell (Sr., Bowling Green, Ky.) double to deep center to give Western the early 2-0 lead.
The Trojans answered in their half of the fourth, plating four runs in the inning, highlighted by RBI singles from Kris Wheeler and Adam Coleman to put UALR ahead, 4-2.
After a scoreless fifth, the Trojans added to their lead, scoring three more runs on three hits to make it a 7-2 contest heading into the final three stanzas.
In the top of the eighth, Townsend got the rally started with a lead-off walk, and Trevor Keesling (Jr., Pendleton, Ind.) reached on a fielder's choice to put two on with one out. After Townsend was out at second, Ransdell stepped up and singled to center, plating Keesling to cut the lead to four.
That was as close as the Toppers would come, though, as the Trojans retired WKU in the ninth to claim the 7-3 victory.
UALR starter Aaron Carter (2-3) got the win, giving up three runs on seven hits while striking out eight in 7 2/3 innings of work.
Brandon Miller (Sr., Muncie, Ind.) got the nod for Western, allowing seven runs (five earned) on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings, but fell to 0-2 on the year. Grady Hinchman (Fr., Pendleton, Ind.) tossed 2 2/3 scoreless in relief for the Toppers.
The Hilltoppers return home to host Murray State Tuesday at Nick Denes Field. Action begins at 6 p.m. (CST).
