State Division I report

Rockwell swinging into action

UALR doesn’t have a permanent spot in the field for Tanner Rockwell, but the junior from Heber Springs has found a comfortable home in the No. 3 spot in the batting order.

Rockwell has been UALR’s designated hitter in 21 games this season. He’s played in the outfield, at second base and at third base, and he’s had six appearances on the mound.

Trojans Coach Scott Norwood said he usually decides on where to play Rockwell by deciding if one of his players needs a day off. If so, Rockwell takes their place.

“He’s just an overall great baseball player,” Norwood said. “I think he has really taken on the role, just being our utility guy. He’s fine with that.”

When it comes to making out a lineup, his role is defined clearly. He’s hit third regularly for the Trojans and has shown no signs of a tough adjustment after playing the past two years at Arkansas Baptist in Little Rock. His .360 batting average and .457 on-base percentage rank fifth in the Sun Belt Conference, and he is sixth in slugging (.613).

His four home runs and five doubles also lead the Trojans, and he will take a 10-game hitting streak into a three-game series at Louisiana-Monroe that begins today.

“He really likes to hit,” Norwood said. “He’s just a special hitter, a special player. He knows how to swing at good pitches and you find out that produces good results.”ARKANSAS STATE

Maggio back with bat

Zach Maggio doesn’t yet have the arm to play in the field full time for Arkansas State, but an injury that wiped out all of last season did nothing to deter his hitting.

The Red Wolves senior has become the regular designated hitter a year after missing all of 2013 because of a labrum tear sustained before last season started.

He played five of the first six games at second base but has since settled in as the regular designated hitter.

He is carrying a seven-game hitting streak into this weekend’s home series against Texas State, and has reached base in 12 consecutive games while batting in the leadoff spot.

He is hitting .284 with 17 runs scored, third-most on the team.

“I don’t know if the injury was ever an offensive concern,” ASU Coach Tommy Raffo said. “It was more of a defensive concern. … He’s been solid for us.”

Maggio’s roll has increased over the past month since Zach George, who was coming off an anterior cruciate ligament tear, tore his ACL again Feb.

28.

Raffo said Maggio could move back to second base, but at this point his role is as a designated hitter at the top of the lineup.

“For the arm to keep coming around, he’s doing the best that he can with that,” Raffo said. “He’s got experienced [at-bats]. …. He fills that void for us.”

Sports, Pages 19 on 03/28/2014

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