Runs were hard to come by for the Trojans in a 3-1 loss to Little Rock in the Sun Belt Conference opener on Friday night.

The loss drops the Trojans to 12-6 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

Andrew Crane got the start for the Trojans. The senior pitched six innings and allowed three total runs, two of which were earned on six hits.

Lance Johnson pitched one inning and gave up just one hit and struck out one. Corey Childress also made an appearance.

The Trojans finished with five hits led by Brandon Lockridge who went 2-4.

The Trojans attempted to jump on the board in the first inning when they loaded the bases with two outs. Troy native Chase Smartt grounded out to short to end the threat.

The game stayed scoreless until a solo homerun by Chase Coker sailed over the right field wall in the third to give Little Rock the lead.

The Trojans wasted no time to even the score. In the bottom of the third Brandon Lockridge laced a leadoff triple to left center field. Matt Sanders flew out to right field, deep enough to allow Lockridge to stride into home to tie the score at 1.

After two scoreless innings, Little Rock broke the scoreless streak in the fifth with a two-run single by Troy Alexander to give the visiting Trojans a 3-1 lead.

The Trojans just had one hit after the sixth inning on Friday.

The Trojans entered the ninth trailing 3-1. Drew Frederic led off the inning with a strikeout. Smartt followed up with a fly out in foul territory. Manny Earing ended the game with a strikeout.

The Trojans will continue their series with Little Rock at 3 p.m.