Box score


TROY, Ala.  – Jaguar left-hander Andrew Fonzi tossed 7 2/3 shutout innings in relief and struck out a career-high eight batters to lead the University of South Alabama baseball team to an 11-3 win over Troy Friday evening at Riddle-Pace Field.

Fonzi (1-3) earned his first career win and retired 10 of the final 12 batters he faced in the game. He allowed just four hits and issued two walks in his longest career outing.

After Troy (25-29, 13-16 SBC) scored three runs in the bottom of the second on a two-run home run by Chase Mathis and a solo shot by Tyler Hannah, South Alabama scored 11 unanswered runs which was capped by a five-run ninth inning.

South Alabama (21-32, 15-14 SBC) answered in the top of the fourth when Drew Cofield delivered a two-out solo home run over the left field wall to cut the Troy lead to 3-1.

Jordan Patterson cut the deficit to one run in the top of the sixth when he doubled to the left-center gap with one out to score Nolan Earley, who walked earlier in the inning, and cut the Troy lead to 3-2. The Jags tied the game 3-3 one batter later when Nick Zaharion reached on an error by Troy third baseman Danny Collins that plated Whitt Dorsey. Dustin Dalken followed with an RBI single down the left field line to give the Jags a 4-3 lead.

USA added a run in the top of the seventh on an RBI single by Earley for a 5-3 lead, and doubled its lead to 6-3 in the top of the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Dalken.

The Jags then erupted for five runs on seven hits in the top of the ninth, highlighted by a two-run double by Dorsey, RBI double by Cofield and an RBI single by Dalken.

“(Andrew) Fonzi did a great job tonight,” USA head coach Mark Calvi said. “That’s why you never stop playing the game. We were behind early and it wasn’t looking good, but we went to the bullpen and he (Fonzi) just shut them down. He did an outstanding job. That’s exactly what we needed tonight.”

Every Jaguar starter recorded a hit in the game, with seven Jags recording multiple hits. Cofield went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, two RBI and two runs scored. Patterson went 3-for-5 with a double, one RBI and three runs scored. Dalken finished 2-for-4 with three RBI, and Dorsey went 2-for-5 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored. Graham Odom, Brad Hook and Robby Campbell had two hits apiece.

USA pounded out 18 hits in the game, its highest total since recording 21 hits in a 14-7 win at UALR on April 15.

Mathis went 3-for-3 with a triple, a homer, two RBI and one run to lead the Trojans at the plate.

Troy starter Joe Hernandez (4-3) took the loss in 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and one walk.

The series will conclude Saturday with the rubber match at 6 p.m., which will be broadcast on SBC TV on Comcast Sports South in Mobile.

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).