MOBILE, Ala. - Troy scored 15 runs in the first three innings, and held the Jaguars to just five hits as the Trojans knocked off University of South Alabama baseball 17-0 Thursday night at Stanky Field.
Troy's first six batters reached base and scored in the first inning as the Trojans to a 6-0 lead after the first half of the first inning. Adam Bryant led off the game with a home run to left-center field, his fifth leadoff homer of the season, before Miles Hoyle delivered a grand slam over the right field wall to give the Trojans a six-run lead.
Hoyle hit his second home run in as many innings in the top of the second, when he delivered a three-run shot to left field to give the Trojans a 9-0 lead.
Troy added six runs in the top of the third inning on a three-run homer by Chase Whitley, a two-run single by Chad Watson, and Myers was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to increase the Trojan lead to 15-0.
Troy (31-22, 15-13 SBC) pounded out 16 hits in the game, while four Trojan pitchers combined for the shutout, led by right-hander Andrew Dickinson (6-5) who earned the win in six innings. Dickinson allowed just three hits while striking out five and walking two, and did not allow a runner to reach third base.
USA right-hander D.D. Hanks (9-6) suffered the loss in two-thirds of an inning, matching the shortest start of his Jaguar career. Hanks allowed six runs on six hits and issued one walk.
Five Trojans homered in the game, led by Hoyle, who went 3-for-4 with two home runs, seven RBI and three runs scored. Whitley went 3-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and three runs scored. Myers and Bryant also added home runs in the game for the Trojans.
Taylor White went 3-for-3 with a stolen base to lead USA at the plate. Jake Overstreet added a double, and Adam Heisler had one hit while extending his on-base streak to 34 consecutive games.
"Troy came out swinging the bats," USA head coach Steve Kittrell said. "D.D. just wasn't locating his fastball in-and-out like he normally does, and you have to make pitches against them, because they are really hot right now. We looked awfully defensive at the plate, but I thought Dickinson kept the ball down and did a good job. You have to give him a lot of credit."
The loss marked the Jaguars' worst defeat since 2005, when USA fell to Louisiana-Lafayette 22-4, and marked the biggest margin of victory in the USA-Troy series.
USA (30-24, 16-12 SBC) continues its series with Troy Friday at 6 p.m. at Stanky Field.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
- USA -
NOTES: Heisler extended his on-base streak to 34 games ... USA fell to 30-20 all-time against Troy, and 20-6 all-time against the Trojans at Stanky Field ... The Jags have now dropped three consecutive games to Troy, dating back to last season ... Hanks matched his shortest career start ... White extended his hitting streak to six games ... USA suffered its second consecutive shutout, marking the first time under Kittrell and the first time since 1982.
