TROY, Ala. – South Alabama's late rally was not enough to complete the sweep as Troy takes the final game of the series, 4-3.
Troy built an early two-run lead after loading the bases and drawing two walks in the second inning, then adding a third run in the fourth inning on a groundout.
Will Turner knocked the Jags' first hit as a double, then logged the first run off an
Ethan Melton single in the top of the sixth.
Brennan Holt scratched in an RBI to send Melton home. In the bottom of the inning, a wild pitch scored the difference-maker with two outs.
On the first and only pitch he saw, pinch hitter
Robbie Petracci sent it out of right field as the leadoff hitter. The Jags were unable to tie it up in the final two innings.
Winning Pitcher: Noah Manning (3-0)
Losing Pitcher: Cooper Cooksey (1-2)
QUOTES
Head Coach
Mark Calvi
Overall Thoughts:Â We didn't get a good start today. We gave five free passes in the first two innings and two runs, and that was the difference in the ballgame. I thought our guys out of the pen competed great. We hit some balls hard early, didn't have anything to show for it. We lined up four or five, you know, three, four or five balls early in the game. (Brady) Fuller settled in and we got him out of there and we had some chances and you know, (Noah) Manning, he has a one era for a reason. You know, he's tough. We hit some balls hard but right into the turf and no bad hops out there on the turf like on a natural field and you know, it was a good college baseball game today and they won.
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On today's pitching: I thought all our guys that came in from the third on did a great job. They competed like crazy and you know, we had one walk the last seven innings so that was the difference in the ballgame free passes for them. A couple hits, free passes and they scored two runs on two singles. And you know, that's hard to overcome when you play a really good team on the road.
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UP NEXT
South Alabama returns to Stanky Field to host the first leg of the midweek series against Alabama State on Tuesday, March 26 at 6:30 p.m.
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