The Central Arkansas Bears and the Little Rock Trojans are scheduled to play a three-game baseball series this weekend as part of the Governor’s I-40 Showdown, an annual competition between the two schools across all sports. The first game will take place on Friday, March 6 at 2:00 p.m. in Conway, followed by a doubleheader with the second game starting around 6:00 p.m. The doubleheader includes a nine-inning opener and a seven-inning second game. The series will conclude on Sunday at Gary Hogan Field in Little Rock with first pitch at 1:00 p.m.
Historically, the Bears and Trojans have faced each other sixty-one times since their first meeting in 1977. The Bears won that initial contest, but the Trojans dominated most matchups in the 1980s. In the 1990s, both teams split their games evenly, while since 2000, Little Rock holds a 23-16 advantage and has won seven of the last ten encounters.
Last week, Central Arkansas won its home series against South Dakota State two games to one and secured a midweek victory over Vanderbilt with a score of 5-4. Zeb Allen contributed eight hits, seven runs, one double, one home run, and six RBIs over four games. Denver Hamilton pitched 7.1 innings combined over his starts against South Dakota State and Vanderbilt, allowing five hits and two runs while striking out six batters. Patrick Fernandez started against Vanderbilt and pitched 4.1 innings with three hits allowed and three strikeouts. Hunter Alexander appeared in three games during the week for a total of five innings pitched, giving up two hits and striking out six to earn both a win and a save.
So far this season, Central Arkansas is batting .265 with 119 hits and a .390 slugging percentage; opponents are hitting .260 with 116 hits and a .399 slugging percentage.
The Trojans enter this series following five consecutive losses after being swept by Missouri State last weekend and dropping midweek games to UAPB and Memphis. Before this losing streak, they had won five straight games including sweeps of West Georgia and victories over Memphis and Eastern Michigan. This season, Little Rock is batting .279 with 114 hits and a .471 slugging percentage; their opponents have hit .263 with 104 hits and a .443 slugging percentage.
Games two and three of the series will be broadcast on ESPN+, with live stats available online.
