Box Score (PDF)
Photo Gallery

MOBILE, Ala. – Jaguar right-hander Sean Trimble tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings to lead the University of South Alabama baseball team to a 5-2 win over No. 11 Mississippi State Tuesday at Stanky Field.

Trimble (2-0) allowed just two hits and struck out five against two walks in 6 2/3 innings pitched to earn his second win of the season. MSU right-hander Parker Ford (0-1) allowed two runs without allowing a hit, and struck out one against two walks in 1 1/3 innings in the loss. Jaguar right-hander Matt Peacock allowed two unearned runs on one hit with four strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings to record his fifth save of the season.

"I am proud of Sean's effort," USA head coach Mark Calvi said. "He mixed his pitches well; he threw his changeup. He pitched in to (Brent) Rooker, and no one pitches him in – he is one of the best hitters in the country. Trimble did something different, and that was had guts, wasn't afraid to pitch him inside and he used his slider. I thought Sean was really good against him; that was the game plan and he executed it and I am proud of him." 

"You just have to be ready when your number is called, and that's what I did," Trimble said. "I just had everything working for me. I threw strikes and stayed ahead of hitters. I'm happy and we (team) are happy, so we just have to get ready for tomorrow."

Mississippi State (25-14) threatened when it put two runners in scoring position with one out in the top of the fourth inning following a pair of hit by pitches and a wild pitch. But Jaguar right-hander Sean Trimble struck out Tanner Poole and induced a 2-3 inning-ending groundout to escape the jam and preserve a scoreless tie. 

South Alabama (22-15) put the first two runners aboard in the bottom of the fifth inning on back-to-back walks by Cam Cummings and Hunter Stokes. MSU right-hander Parker Ford induced a popup to first base on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Dylan Hardy for the first out of the frame. Drew LaBounty followed with a walk to load the bases for Brendan Donovan, who delivered an RBI single to right field to score Cummings with the game's first run. Travis Swaggerty then reached on an RBI infield single on a high chopper back to the mound that scored Stokes and doubled the Jaguar lead to 2-0. Jared Barnes followed with an RBI groundout to third that allowed LaBounty to score and extend the USA lead to 3-0.

The Jags added a run to their advantage in the bottom of the seventh inning. LaBounty drew a one-out walk, and advanced to third on a single to right-center field by Donovan to put runners at the corners with one out. A walk by Swaggerty loaded the bases for Barnes, who lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score LaBounty for a 4-0 Jaguar lead. 

Mississippi State put its first two batters on base in the top of the eighth inning on a fielding error by Stokes at second base and a dropped fly ball in center field by Swaggerty. Brent Rooker followed with a sacrifice fly to center field to score Hunter Stovall and cut the USA lead to 4-1. Ryan Gridley then delivered a sacrifice fly to left field to plate Trey Jolly and cut the Jaguar lead in half at 4-2.

The Jags added the game's final run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Colton Thomas reached on a one-out bunt single to third, stole second, then stole third and scored on the play when MSU catcher Dustin Skelton's throw sailed into left field.

"Tack-on runs are always big," Calvi said. "I am proud of Colton Thomas for coming off the bench and being ready to play. That run made me a little more comfortable going into the top of the ninth. They (MSU) are still a dangerous club with very capable players. Every run matters, and we got locked in a little at the end. But I wasn't pleased with the game offensively or defensively. Luckily Sean Trimble was ready to go."

South Alabama will return to action Wednesday when it hosts Alabama State at 6:30 p.m. at Stanky Field.

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

Join the Dugout Club, the baseball specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. Members enjoy all games from inside the Stadium Club with climate control, private restrooms, private concessions and access to listen to the radio broadcast. All donations to the Dugout Club go directly to support the South Alabama baseball program. For more information on how you can join visit: jaguarathleticfund.com/dugoutclub