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TROY, Ala. – Louisiana-Lafayette second baseman Stefan Trosclair delivered a grand slam in the top of the 12th inning to lead the Ragin' Cajuns to a 5-1 win over the University of South Alabama baseball team in the Sun Belt Conference Championship final.

Joe Robbins led off the inning with a single to left field, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Dylan Butler. USA right-hander Ben Taylor issued an intentional walk to Blake Trahan before inducing a groundout to third off the bat of Brenn Conrad for the second out of the frame. Taylor intentionally walked Kyle Clement to load the bases, before Trosclair hit a 1-0 fastball from Taylor over the right-field wall for his 16th home run of the season.

ULL (39-21) spotted its starting pitcher Gunner Leger a one-run lead in the top of the first inning. Clement reached on a two-out double to right field, and Trosclair followed with an RBI single back up the middle to score Clement with the game's first run.

USA (37-20) threatened in the bottom of the second inning. Matt Bolger reached on a one-out single to right field, and advanced to third when Cole Gleason reached on a throwing error by ULL third baseman Conrad to put two runners in scoring position with one out. Danny Martinez followed with a walk from Leger to load the bases for Jared Barnes, but Leger induced a 5-3 inning-ending double play to escape the jam and preserve a one-run lead.

South Alabama answered to tie the game in the bottom of the third inning. Cole Billingsley reached on a one-out single to right field, and scored one batter later when Ben Gann doubled down the right-field line to tie the game at one run apiece.

ULL looked to push its second run of the game across in the 10th inning. Greg Davis reached on a leadoff double down the right-field line. Jam Williams came on to pinch-run for Davis, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Butler. An intentional walk from Taylor to Trahan put runners at the corners with one out. Trahan stole second before Conrad lined into an inning-ending double play when Ballew fired to Davis Knapp at the plate to cut down Williams attempting to score the go-ahead run from third.

The Cajuns threatened for the second straight inning in the 11th. Clement reached on a hit by pitch from Taylor to lead off the frame, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Trosclair. Taylor then issued an intentional walk to Tyler Girouard before inducing a flyout to center field off the bat of Evan Powell for the second out of the frame, which allowed Clement to tag from second. But Taylor escaped the inning with a flyout to Ballew in left field for the final out.

ULL right-hander Greg Milhorn (4-1) tossed four scoreless innings in relief of Leger, and allowed just one hit with one strikeout and one walk to earn the win. Taylor (6-3) suffered the loss in six relief innings, allowing four runs on four hits with three strikeouts and four walks. USA starting pitcher Kevin Hill allowed one run on five hits with five strikeouts and a pair of walks without factoring in the decision.

Trosclair, who was named the SBC Championship Most Outstanding Player, finished 2-for-3 with a home run, five RBI and one run scored to lead the Cajuns at the plate. Billingsley went 2-for-4 with one run scored and one stolen base, and Gleason added two hits. Gann finished with a double and one RBI.

Ballew, Billingsley, Hill and Ryan Raspino were each named to the SBC All-Tournament Team, which was announced at the conclusion of the tournament.

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).

Sun Belt All-Tournament Team
Zach George Arkansas State
Chandler Hawkins, Arkansas State
Matt Rose, Georgia State
Adam Ballew, South Alabama
Cole Billingsley, South Alabama
Kevin Hill, South Alabama
Ryan Raspino, South Alabama
Kyle Clement, UL Lafayette
Gunner Leger, UL Lafayette
Dylan Moore, UL Lafayette
Levi Scott, UT Arlington
Scott Grist, Texas State
David Paiz, Texas State
 
Most Outstanding Player
Stefan Trosclair, UL Lafayette