Box score


TROY, Ala.  – An eighth-inning home run by Troy’s Jakob Nixon helped the Trojans secure an 8-5 series-clinching win over University of South Alabama baseball Saturday at Riddle-Pace Field.

Troy (26-29, 14-16 SBC) held a one-run lead after 71/2 innings before Nixon provided two insurance runs with a two-run homer to right field.

USA jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Robby Campbell led off the game with a double to left field, and scored on an RBI double to center field by Whitt Dorsey. Later in the inning, Nick Zaharion singled to left field to score Dorsey and push the Jag lead to 2-0.

Troy cut the Jaguar lead in half in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly by Danny Collins that scored Tyler Hannah, who singled to lead off the inning.

Logan Pierce doubled to the left-center gap in the bottom of the third with one out to score Hannah, who reached on an error to lead off the inning, and tie the game 2-2. Collins followed with a single back up the box to score Pierce and give Troy a 3-2 lead. Chase Mathis singled later in the inning to score Collins and double the Troy lead to 4-2.

The Jags cut the Troy lead to 4-3 in the top of the fourth when Hunt Griffith delivered a two-out RBI single to left field to score Drew Cofield, who led off the inning with a walk.

But Troy answered in the bottom-half of the fourth on a two-run homer by Hannah to push the Trojan lead to 6-3.

Jordan Patterson homered over the right field wall in the top of the fifth to trim the Troy lead to 6-4.

Campbell led off the top of the seventh with a single, and scored on an RBI groundout by Patterson for the Jags’ final run of the game.

Ryan Brady (2-3) earned the win in five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Payton Gardner (1-6) allowed six runs on nine hits and struck out three in four innings in the loss. Nate Hill tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings without allowing a hit to earn his fourth save of the season.

Every Jaguar starter recorded a hit in the game, marking the second straight contest in which that has occurred. Campbell went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored, and Patterson finished 1-for-3 with a homer, two RBI and a run scored.

Hannah went 3-for-5 with a homer, two RBI and three runs to lead the Trojans at the plate.

South Alabama will return to action next week at the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.

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).