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MOBILE, Ala. – Troy scored the game-winning run on an RBI safety squeeze by Nick Masonia in the top of the 10th inning for a 2-1 series-opening win over No. 29 University of South Alabama baseball Thursday at Stanky Field.

David Hall reached on fielding error by Jaguar shortstop Ryan Raspino to lead off the top of the 10th before being lifted for pinch-runner Shaw Pinnell, who then stole second before advancing to third on a groundout to third by Trevin Hall. Following a walk by Bert Givens, Masonia put down a successful bunt on a safety squeeze that scored Pinnell with the game-winning run.

USA (34-19, 19-9 SBC) put the tying run in scoring position, and the winning run on base with consecutive walks by Collura and Ballew in the bottom of the 10th.  A groundout to first off the bat of Danny Martinez moved both runners into scoring position with two outs, but Troy left-hander Jeremy McGowan induced a flyout to right field off the bat of Cole Gleason to end the game.

Ben Tidwell (2-2) tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Troy starter Grant Bennett, and allowed two hits with a pair of walks and one strikeout to earn the win. McGowan recorded the final out of the game to earn his sixth save of the season. Jaguar right-hander Ben Taylor (6-2) did not allow a hit in 3 1/3 relief innings, and struck out seven with one walk but allowed one unearned run in the loss.

Troy (30-23, 18-10 SBC) threatened in back-to-back innings before scoring the first run of the game. Trevin Hall reached on a leadoff walk in the top of the second, and TJ Binder followed with a single to left field. A sacrifice bunt by Masonia moved both runners into scoring position with one out. USA right-hander Kevin Hill struck out Clay Holcomb for the second out of the frame, and induced an inning-ending groundout to second on a diving play by Matt Bolger for to escape the jam and preserve a scoreless tie.

The Trojans threatened for the second straight inning when it loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the third, but Hill struck out Binder to end the inning and extend his consecutive scoreless streak to 18 innings.

Troy then pushed across the first run of the game in the top of the fourth. Masonia led off the top of the inning with a single to left field, and Holcomb followed with a walk from Hill. A sacrifice bunt by Tripp Calhoun moved both runners into scoring position with one out before Matt Sanders lifted a sacrifice fly to left-center field to plate Masonia for one-run Trojan lead and snap Hill's scoreless-innings streak at 18 2/3 innings.

USA answered to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth. Adam Ballew drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch from Bennett. Danny Martinez followed with an RBI double just inside the first-base line to score Ballew and even the score 1-1.

Martinez went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI to lead the Jags at the plate, and Cole Billingsley added a pair of hits. Logan Hill went 3-for-5 to lead Troy offensively.

The series will continue Friday with game two at 6:30 p.m. at Stanky Field.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).