NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Right fielder Alberto Rodriguez knocked in one run on two hits as Arkansas downed Midland 3-1 Tuesday to force a decisive Game 3 in the Texas League Championship Series at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock.
Rodriguez, who finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk, put the Travelers on the board in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI single to left field, which scored center fielder Jared Oliva.
Arkansas tallied only five hits to Midland's 13. Oliva finished 2-for-4, while first baseman Logan Windish and pinch hitter Victor Labrada picked up a pair of RBI.
The Rockhounds answered back in the top of the sixth inning as second baseman Jack Winkler drove an RBI single off pitcher Juan Mercedes to left field, tying the game 1-1.
Mercedes was credited with the victory for Arkansas after allowing one run on one hit with four strikeouts over 3.2 innings of work.
The Travelers regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a sacrifice fly by Labrada. The 24-year-old Cuban, with the bases loaded, took a 1-0 pitch from Lincoln Henzman to deep center field, bringing Rodriguez around to put Arkansas up 2-1.
Windish grounded into a fielder's choice to add an insurance run for Arkansas in the bottom of the eighth inning, sealing the 3-1 victory and forcing a winner-take-all Game 3.
Arkansas, making its second consecutive appearance in the Texas League Championship Series, can secure its first league title since 2008 with a win over Midland on Wednesday.
The first pitch from Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock is set for 6:35 p.m.