MOBILE, Ala. - Sean Laird delivered the game-winning double in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead University of South Alabama baseball to an 11-10 win over Troy on Senior Day Saturday afternoon at Stanky Field.
With the score tied 10-10 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Laird doubled to right field past a diving Steven Felix to score Jake Overstreet, who led off the inning with a single to left field.
Laird, who was one of eight USA seniors playing his final game at Stanky Field, went 3-for-4 with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored to lead the Jags at the plate. Jaguar shortstop Brandon Brown, also a senior, went 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBI and a run scored. Overstreet finished 2-for-3 with a home run, one RBI and three runs scored. Clint Reynolds added a double, two RBI and a run, Brad Hook had one hit, two RBI and a run scored, and Taylor White added a double and two runs.
Troy designated hitter Chase Whitley went 2-for-5 with a home run, five RBI and two runs scored to lead the Trojans at the plate. Ryan Ditthardt went 3-for-5 with two home runs, three RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base, and J.R. Myers added two hits and a run.
USA right-hander Carlton Paris (4-2) earned the win in 2.1 innings of shutout relief, and allowed just two hits while striking out two and issuing two walks.
Troy right-hander Robby Loew (1-2) took the loss in three innings of relief, allowing one run on three hits.
Overstreet blasted his 11th home run of the season in the bottom of the first inning to give the Jags a 1-0 lead, but Troy answered to tie the game 1-1 in the top of the second on a solo home run by Ditthardt to lead off the inning.
The Jags scored two runs in the bottom of the second inning on a two-run single to right field by Hook to push the USA lead to 3-1.
Troy posted three runs in the top of the third on a two-run double by Whitley and RBI single by Ditthardt to give the Trojans a 4-3 lead.
South Alabama opened up a 10-4 in the bottom of the third inning with six two-out runs, aided by a three-run home run by Brown to left field. Overstreet and Tanner reached on a walk and single, respectively, before scoring on Laird's double to center field. Reynolds followed with a two-run double down the right field line to score Laird and White, before Brown homered to give the Jags a 10-4 lead.
Troy scored four runs in the top of the fourth on back-to-back home runs by Whitley and Ditthardt. Adam Bryant reached on a hit by pitch to lead off the inning, and Felix followed with a walk before Whitley hit a three-run homer over the left-center field wall. Ditthardt then followed with a solo blast to left-center to cut the Jaguar lead to 10-8.
The Trojans cut the USA lead to 10-9 in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI single by Adam Bryant, and tied the game in the top of the seventh when Bryant scored from third on a steal attempt by Felix.
South Alabama scored the game's final run on Laird's double to right field.
"I think our guys showed a little character today," USA head coach Steve Kittrell said. "This team is better than what it showed the last couple of weeks, we just have to get back on track. I was glad to see us put a seven-run inning together and get a few big hits. We had much better swings today, and hopefully this will be something that will jump start us and get the offense kicked in gear. It's a good win for us, but we certainly have a huge tournament coming up that we have to win."
USA (31-25, 17-13 SBC) will return to action Wed., May 26, in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Championship in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
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).
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NOTES: Adam Heisler's on-base streak was snapped at 35 games ... USA improved to 31-21 all-time against Troy, and 21-7 all-time against the Trojans at Stanky Field ... The Jags snapped a four-game losing streak to Troy with the win ... Laird recorded his team-leading 22nd multiple-hit game ... Overstreet recorded his team-leading 19th multiple-RBI game, and enters the SBC Championship with 69 RBI, 11 shy of tying Luis Gonzalez for the single-season record at South Alabama.
