Caskey’s walk-off home run caps Red Wolves’ rally

A-State notches comeback win over instate rival UALR

From Arkansas State University

astateredwolves.com

JONESBORO — Brayden Caskey launched a one-out solo home run in the bottom of the ninth Tuesday night, completing Arkansas State’s 9-8 comeback victory over rival Arkansas-Little Rock in college baseball at Tomlinson Stadium.

ASU (17-28) trailed 8-4 through six innings, but Caskey’s blast capped a five-run rally in the final three frames to secure his team’s sixth consecutive victory over the Trojans (27-18). Tuesday’s gameending shot was the Red Wolves’ first walk-off homer since Alex Howard belted one on Feb. 24, 2019, against Valparaiso.

The Red Wolves out-hit the visitors 10-8, with six of those hits going for extra bases. Caskey went 2-for-3 and scored twice while driving in three runs with both hits for extra bases, as he also tripled in a pair of runs in the Red Wolves’ four-run first inning.

John Hoskyn joined Caskey with a multi-hit performance, going 2-for-4 with a double. Brandon Hager reached base four times, going 1-for-2 with three walks and two runs scored, to extend his onbase streak to 36 games.

Daedrick Cail notched a multi-RBI day with two on a hit and a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Arlon Butts (3-4) earned the win in relief, working a perfect top of the ninth with a swinging strikeout to end the inning. He was one of six ASU relievers in the contest behind starter Jakob Frederick. Jake Henry Williams tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts, one of four hurlers to pitch shutout appearances.

A first-inning solo homer by Tyler Williams gave the Trojans a 1-0 lead, which ASU quickly erased with a four-run rally in the bottom half. The first four batters reached base, with Blake Burris scoring on a single by Cail. An RBI single by Cross Jumper drove in Hager and then Caskey tripled home Cail and Jumper to make it 4-1.

In the second inning, UALR pushed across five runs to reclaim a 6-4 lead.

Skyler Trevino led off the frame with a solo shot before an RBI single by Jake Wright scored Noah Brewer, who went 2-for-4 with a walk. One pitch later, Alex Seguine deposited a three-run blast over the left-center field wall.

The Trojans tacked on a run when Ty Rhoades scored on a fourth-inning passed ball. A sacrifice squeeze play in the fifth inning by Christian Bernabe drove in Trevino to make it 8-4 for UALR relief pitcher Hoss Brewer, who kept the Red Wolves’ offense in check in his six innings on the hill, allowing one unearned run on four hits.

After Austin Brock stranded two runners in scoring position in the seventh, ASU got a run back when Hager doubled and scored when Cail reached on a throwing error. Jake Algee worked around two runners in the eighth before the Red Wolves tied the game with a three-run spurt.

Caskey (walk) and Hoskyn (single) reached to put runners at the corners for Allen Grier, who doubled home Caskey and put the tying run in scoring position. Hager later walked with the bases loaded, pushing home pinch-runner Cason Campbell, and Cail’s sac fly scored Grier to even the score.

Butts made quick work of the side in the top of the ninth to put the Red Wolves back at the plate.

Following a tough ninepitch at-bat by Jumper, Caskey connected on a 1-0 pitch from Austin Stubber (5-1), sending it over the left-field wall before trotting into the mob of Red Wolves behind home plate. Arkansas State is set for its next-to-last Sun Belt Conference series, traveling to Appalachian State for a three-game set.

First pitch of Friday’s series opener is slated for 5 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Arkansas State University