TROY, Ala. --Troy hit four home runs, including a pair in the fifth that accounted for the go-ahead three runs, as the Trojans evened the Sun Belt Conference weekend series with a 9-7 decision over South Alabama Friday night at Riddle-Pace Field. Ryne Jernigan had three hits, while Ray Kruml and Bunky Kateon each had a pair lead the Jaguars.
Troy (31-24, 17-12) jumped out to a 3-0 lead on a solo home run in the second and two-run single in the third. The Jaguars (31-23, 15-14) quickly struck back with five runs in the top of the third. Jernigan and Ryan Bohanan started the frame with singles to put runners on the corners. After a strikeout and fielder's choice, a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third before Kateon and Jake Overstreet both doubled to even the score at 3-3. Kruml followed with a shot to deep center that took a strange carom off the wall, allowing the speedster to come all the way around for his second inside-the-park home run of the season. The round-tripper also plated Overstreet for a 5-3 advantage.
A two-run home run in the bottom of the inning tied the score at five, but Jernigan sent the Jags ahead briefly, 6-5, with a solo homer over the wall in right center. But a pair of Troy home runs in the fifth accounted for an 8-6 lead and the Trojans never trailed again.
Chris Davis hit a solo shot into the wind to lead off the sixth, but Troy's bullpen allowed just two hits in four innings of work to preserve the win. The Trojans added an insurance run in the eighth to make the final score 9-7.
Kevin Nabors (6-4) took the loss despite tying his career high of seven strikeouts in only 4.1 innings. He gave up eight hits, but the four home runs accounted for eight runs, all earned. Ryan Ellison was equally ineffective, surrendering seven runs in 5.0 innings, but picked up the win to improve to 5-3. Trojan closer Josh Storm pitched the final two innings, earning a school-record 11th save of the season.
"They played with a lot of intensity and our guys matched that," Head Coach Steve Kittrell said. "It was a slugfest for a while, but their bullpen really held us at bay. We didn't get those timely hits we needed."
The two teams conclude the regular season tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. at Riddle Pace Field. The Jaguars can still finish as high as fourth in the league standings, but could also fall to seventh with a loss and combination of other wins and losses.
