Box score

MOBILE, Ala. – Troy used a five-run eighth inning and a quality start from left-hander Jimmy Hodgskin to knock off University of South Alabama baseball 11-6 Friday evening at Stanky Field.

The Trojans held a 6-3 lead heading into the top of the eighth before scoring five runs off of Jaguar starter Dustin Crenshaw on RBI singles by Boone Shear and Tyler Hannah, and a three-run home run by Adam Bryant to push the lead to 11-3 through 7 1/2 innings.

Hodgskin (3-6) tossed 6 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on nine hits with five strikeouts and two walks to earn the win for the Trojans. Nathan Hill pitched 2 2/3 innings in relief, and allowed three runs on four hits with four strikeouts and one walk to earn his third save of the season.

Crenshaw (7-2) suffered the loss in eight innings, allowing a career-high 11 runs on 15 hits with a strikeout and a walk.

Troy (39-16, 20-9 SBC) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-out, two-run single by Todd McRae, and never surrendered the advantage.

The Jags loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the third when Hunt Griffith led off the inning with a single, Taylor White reached on an error by Trojan second baseman T.J. Rivera, and Jeff DeBlieux reached on a bunt single to third. Jake Overstreet followed with a fielder’s choice to shortstop that allowed Griffith to score to cut the Trojan lead to 2-1, but Hodgskin struck out Brent Tanner and induced an inning-ending pop-up off the bat of Nolan Earley to end the threat.

South Alabama (29-25, 15-14 SBC) would not cut the deficit any closer the rest of the way. Troy added three runs in the top of the fourth on an RBI double by Boone Shear, sacrifice fly off the bat of Ali Knowles and RBI groundout by Tyler Hannah.

USA cut the Trojan lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the fifth when DeBlieux tripled and scored when Knowles mishandled the ball on the warning track in center field.

DeBlieux then cut the Troy lead in half in the bottom of the seventh when he doubled home White, who doubled to left center to lead off the inning.

But the Trojans answered with a five-spot in the top of the eighth to take an eight-run advantage. South Alabama added two runs in the bottom-half of the eighth when Knowles dropped a fly ball off the bat of DeBlieux that allowed Kirkland and Hook to score.

The Jags tacked on their final run of the game in the bottom of the ninth on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Kirkland.

DeBlieux went 3-for-5 with a triple, double, one RBI and one run scored. Kirkland added two hits, an RBI and a run scored, and Earley and Hook had two hits apiece.

Five Trojans recorded multiple hits in the game, led by Shear who went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs. Prichard and Tyson Workman added three hits each, while Bryant and McRae finished with two hits apiece.

The series will conclude with the rubber match at 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon at Stanky Field, which will mark Jaguar head coach Steve Kittrell’s final game 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).



NOTES:  Overstreet passed former Jaguar Mike Mordecai for fifth on the career RBI list after driving in his 175th career run in the bottom of the third … DeBlieux totaled a career-high six bases … Crenshaw allowed career highs in runs (11) and hits (15) … Kirkland recorded his team-leading 10th sacrifice fly.