Box score

SAN MARCOS, Texas – Carter Perkins delivered a two-out, two-run single in the top of the ninth inning to lead the University of South Alabama baseball team to a 6-4 series-opening win over Texas State Thursday at Bobcat Baseball Stadium. 

Travis Swaggerty reached on a one-out single back up the middle, and Drew LaBounty singled with two outs later in the inning. Jason Cryar followed with a walk to load the bases for Perkins, who delivered a two-run single into left-center field to plate Swaggerty and LaBounty with the game's final runs.

Jaguar left-hander James Traylor (4-0) tossed 1 2/3 scoreless relief innings, and allowed two hits with a pair of strikeouts to earn his fourth win of the year. Left-hander Shane McKinley allowed one hit and struck out one in one inning to earn his fifth save of the season. Bobcat right-hander Brayden Theriot (1-1) allowed two runs on three hits with two strikeouts and one walk in one inning in the loss. USA right-handed starter Randy Bell tossed a career-high 6 1/3 innings, and allowed four runs on 11 hits with three strikeouts and two walks without factoring in the decision. 

Texas State (15-7, 6-1 SBC) was poised to take the game's first lead in the bottom of the third. Jared Huber led off the inning with a walk, and advanced to second on a single by Jonathan Ortega. Granger Studdard singled with two outs later in the inning, but Jaguar center fielder Cole Billingsley retrieved the ball and threw to Jared Barnes at home plate to cut down Huber attempting to score from second.

USA jumped out to a one-run lead in the top of the fourth on a two-out RBI double down the right-field line by Carter Perkins that scored Drew LaBounty, who reached on a fielder' choice earlier in the frame.

The Bobcats loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the fourth on three consecutive singles from Tanner Hill, Ryan Newman and Cory Geisler. Huber then grounded to shortstop which was mishandled by LaBounty and allowed Hill to score and tie the game 1-1. Nick Perez followed with an RBI single to center field to plate Newman for a 2-1 Texas State lead.

TXST pushed its lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out solo home run to left field by Hill. 

USA answered with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth to tie the game. LaBounty reached on a hit by pitch from Humpal to lead off the inning. Danny Martinez and Perkins followed with singles to load the bases with no outs. Brendan Donovan then drew a walk to plate LaBounty and cut the Bobcat lead to 3-2. Ben Gann followed with an RBI groundout back to Humpal that scored Martinez to tie the game 3-3.

Hill delivered a one-out home run to left-center field in the bottom of the seventh – his second of the game – to give the Bobcats a 4-3 lead.

USA responded with a run in the top of the eighth to tie the game. Martinez drew a leadoff walk, and was lifted for pinch-runner Dylan Hardy who advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Perkins. Eddie Paparella then delivered a pinch-hit RBI double to left field to score Hardy and tie the game 4-4.

Texas State loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth on three straight singles by Luke Sherley led Studdard and Teddy Hoffman. But McKinley induced a popup into foul territory to Gann at first base off the bat of Hill for the first out of the inning, recorded the second out of the frame via strikeout and ended the game with a flyout to center field. 

"You can see why they (Texas State) were 6-0 coming in to this series," USA head coach Mark Calvi said. "(Lucas) Humpal was probably 90-94 (mph) early on, and they have a very potent offense. They have some experienced returners in that lineup, some good young guys and they play really good defense. We feel very fortunate to have won this ballgame. There is nothing given to you in this league, and we worked for this one. It wasn't because we didn't have any adversity. We handed them some opportunities, a little uncharacteristically, defensively early on, but you see what a player is made of when things don't go their way. You see what type of team and players you have when things don't go their way. When there's an inning-ending double play that is not made behind them and they score a few runs, you see how the pitcher – Randy Bell – and the player – Drew LaBounty – respond. It's almost like they lacked a pulse out there. LaBounty made a mistake and he comes right back and kept playing harder, and Randy Bell kept competing. It was a team effort tonight, as it always is."

Perkins went 3-for-4 –tying a career high in hits – with a double and a career-high three RBI to lead USA offensively. Paparella added a double and an RBI, and Donovan had one hit and drove in one run. Hill finished 3-for-5 with two home runs, two RBI and three runs scored to lead the Bobcats at the plate. 

"This was a big one," Calvi said. "Our team believed in Randy, and no matter what happens the mark of this team is we are going to compete and play hard no matter what. We understand the game can turn on a dime, whether good or bad, for you or against you. And when things happen, whether good or bad, you keep working and don't get caught up in the good or bad things. We became more of a team tonight. We figured out how to win against a really good pitcher, and what we have to do in some clutch moments as far as making pitches and at-bats." 

The series will continue with game two Friday at 4 p.m. at Bobcat Baseball Stadium.

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).