Box score

TROY, Ala. – No. 23 University of South Alabama baseball scored three runs in the top of the 10th inning for a 8-3 series-opening win over Troy Thursday at Riddle-Pace Field.

South Alabama rallied for five runs with two outs in the top of the 10th. Jared Barnes reached on a two-out single to left field, before Danny Martinez doubled to center field just under a diving Steven Whitaker in center field to score Barnes from first base for a 4-3 Jaguar advantage. Ben Gann followed with a single into shallow left-center field to plate Martinez for a 5-3 USA lead. Matt Bolger then singled through the right side of the infield to score Gann and double the Jaguar lead at 6-3. Drew LaBounty followed with a two-run home run to left field for the game's final runs.

"We got a big hit that mattered," USA head coach Mark Calvi said. "Danny Martinez hit an in-between ball to center field. We got the big hit from (Travis) Swaggerty last Friday night, but aside from that we have had a lot of chances dating back to Appalachian State where some guys who have been great for us all year long – which is basically our whole team – haven't had good fortune. For whatever reason, some things haven't gone their way. And this game is unforgiving if you let it be, and that's why it's important that you maintain your composure at all times through good and bad because it comes back to the right people. If you're not ready for it, then you're going to miss your window and it's going to compound on you. 

"But our guys have been level-headed and composed through wins and losses, and we have had our fair share of tough losses and big wins; tonight was one of those big wins. I think it just came down to the tougher team here in the end, and we have a tough group. If the game comes down to who is tougher, I will take this group."

South Alabama (38-16, 21-7 SBC) jumped out to a two-run lead in the top of the first inning. LaBounty drew a walk to lead off the game, and moved to second on a single through the right side of the infield by Cole Billingsley. A sacrifice bunt by Travis Swaggerty moved both runners into scoring position with one out. Brendan Donovan followed with a two-run double down the right field line to score LaBounty and Billingsley for a 2-0 Jaguar lead. 

Troy (30-24, 15-13 SBC) answered with a run in the bottom of the first to cut its deficit to one. Whitaker drew a walk to lead off the inning, then stole second with one out before scoring on a one-out single back up the middle by Justin Friend.

The Trojans pushed a run across in the bottom of the second to tie the game. Brandon Lockridge led off the bottom of the second with a single through the right side of the infield, and moved to second on a walk by TJ Binder. Peyton Fuller followed with a one-out RBI single through the left side of the infield to score Lockridge and tie the game 2-2. A single to right field by Whitaker loaded the bases with one out. But Jaguar right-hander Kevin Hill escaped the jam with a 5-2-3 inning-ending double play off the bat of Matt Sanders.

Troy took a one-run lead in the bottom of the fifth. Whitaker led off the inning with a single to right-center field, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sanders and advanced to third with one out on a wild pitch by Hill. Joey Denison followed with a two-out RBI single through the right side of the infield to score Whitaker for a 3-2 Troy lead. 

The Jaguars responded with a run in the top of the sixth to tie the game. Barnes doubled to right-center field with two outs in the inning, and scored one batter later on an RBI single to shallow left-center field by Martinez to tie the game 3-3.

Troy threatened when it loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth on three consecutive one-out singles by Chase Smartt, Peyton Fuller and Stephen Whitaker. USA right-hander Mike Dolloff struck out Matt Sanders for the second out of the frame, and escaped the jam with an inning-ending lineout to third base off the bat of Friend to force extra innings.

Dolloff (4-4) tossed 1 2/3 shutout innings and struck out one to earn his fourth win of the season. Troy right-hander Corey Childress (2-3) allowed five runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and one walk in four innings in the loss.

USA pounded out 14 hits in the game, led by Martinez who went 3-for-5 two doubles, two RBI and one run scored. Billingsley finished 3-for-5 with one run scored and Barnes went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. Whitaker finished 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored to lead Troy offensively.

South Alabama will attempt to clinch the series in game two Saturday at 6 p.m.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).