Official Box Score
TROY, Ala. -- South Alabama jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings, but Troy followed with six unanswered runs to defeat the Jaguars 6-5 in the regular-season finale Saturday afternoon at Riddle-Pace Field. The loss sends USA into the Sun Belt Conference Tournament as the No. 7 seed.
The Jaguars will face No. 2 New Orleans in the first round on Wednesday, most likely at 12:30 p.m.
South Alabama scored two in the top of the first inning, in part because of the generosity of Trojan starter Rob Brown. Three of the first four batters singled, including Ryan Bohanan, who drove in the game’s first run. Brown then walked three straight batters, the last to Bunky Kateon with the bases loaded.
The Jaguars chased Brown in the second when back-to-back doubles by Ray Kruml and Clint Toomey made the score 3-0.
But the Trojans bullpen held the Jaguars to just two hits over the next four innings, while the offense heated up. Troy scored one in the third and two in the fourth to tie the game at three, then took the lead on a three-run homer by the league’s hottest hitter, Bryan Miller.
South Alabama closed to within 6-5 with two runs in the seventh. Kruml started the rally with a walk and took second two outs later on a wild pitch. Bohanan doubled to left center, then came in on a single up the middle by David Doss.
The Jaguars threatened in the ninth, putting a runner at second with two outs, but Bohanan struck out on a 3-2 pitch to end the game.
Brandon Sage (3-3) took the loss after allowing six runs and eight hits in 4.2 innings pitched. He did not fan a batter, while walking five. Four Jaguar relievers allowed just one hit and one walk, while striking out five, in relief. Drew Hill, the second of five Troy pitchers, earned the win to improve to 5-0, while Storm registered his school-record 12th save of the season.
Four Jaguars ? Kruml, Toomey, Bohanan and Doss -- each recorded a hit in the contest.
