Box score

Photo Gallery


MOBILE, Ala.  – University of South Alabama baseball scored multiple runs in four innings and set season highs for runs scored and hits in a 16-4 series-clinching win over Troy in Sun Belt Conference action Sunday at Stanky Field.

South Alabama (6-13, 2-1 SBC) earned its first series win of the season in a game that was called after seven innings due to the 10-run rule.

“Any win is important but to beat an outstanding team like Troy two out of three games, and to win today’s game in decisive fashion was impressive,” USA head coach Mark Calvi said. “I told our guys that I was proud of them, and that we can be a good team if we stay aggressive and eliminate mistakes. We can be a solid team if we pitch, play defense and get hits when we need them.”

Six Jaguars collected multiple hits in the contest, led by Nolan Earley who went 3-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and three runs scored. Nick Zaharion finished 2-for-5 with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored. Graham Odom added three hits, two runs scored and an RBI, and Dustin Dalken went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored. Jordan Patterson and Whitt Dorsey finished with two hits and two RBI apiece.

“Our guys were aggressive at the plate today,” Calvi said. “They took what (Cass) Abercrombie gave us. They hit mistakes, took their walks and weren’t careless; I thought we took some good swings on some good pitches.”

After Troy struck for two runs in the top of the first inning on a two-run home run by Danny Collins, South Alabama answered with three runs in the bottom-half of the first on a two-run double by Dorsey and RBI single by Zaharion.

Troy (9-9, 1-2 SBC) answered to tie the game in the top of the second on a solo home run by Chase Mathis to lead off the inning. Jakob Nixon followed with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice by Ali Knowles, but Jaguar starter Anthony Izzio recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat.

The Jags then plated two runs in the bottom of the second on a two-run homer to right field by Nolan Earley – his first of the season – to take a 5-3 lead.

USA then sent 12 batters to the plate in the bottom of the third inning in what ended up being a seven-run frame that was aided by three Trojan errors and pushed the Jaguar lead to 12-3. The inning was highlighted by a two-run single by Patterson, two RBI singles by Dalken and an RBI single by Earley.

South Alabama added a single run in the bottom of the fourth, and tacked on three runs in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single by Odom and two-run home run to left field by Zaharion to extend its lead to 16-3.

Troy added the game’s final run in the top of the seventh inning on a solo homer by Logan Pierce.

Izzio (3-0) earned his team-leading third win of the season in 6 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on nine hits with five strikeouts and a pair of walks. Cass Abercrombie (1-1) suffered the loss in 1 2/3 innings pitched, and allowed five runs on six hits with three strikeouts.

South Alabama will return to action Tuesday, March 20, with a 6 p.m. contest at Auburn.

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:  Dorsey extended his hitting streak to eight games, while Patterson hit safely in his sixth consecutive game … Patterson and Zaharion extended their on-base streaks to 16 games each … USA’s 16 runs Sunday are the most it has scored against Troy since scoring 17 runs in a 2005 contest at Stanky Field … South Alabama improved to 35-26 all-time against the Trojans and 24-10 all-time against Troy at home … The series win is the Jags’ first over Troy since 2009.