MOBILE, Ala. ? The University of South Alabama rallied back from a late deficit but fell two runs short as Troy picked up an 8-6 victory Thursday night, in the opening game of an important Sun Belt Conference series at Stanky Field.
With the win, the Trojans improve to 33-21 on the season and 16-12 in conference play, while the Jags fall to 27-24 and 11-16 in league play. Even with the loss, USA’s Sun Belt Tournament hopes remain alive as the Jags got help Thursday night with losses from Florida International, Western Kentucky and Arkansas State.
Game two of the series between the Jaguars and the Trojans will be Friday night with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.
In the key SBC battle, Troy jumped out in front first with a run in the first. Ian Craze led the game off with a solid single to right and then moved into scoring position after a Jaguar wild pitch. Trojan second baseman Edgar Ramirez then put Troy up 1-0 with a RBI single to left center.
South Alabama took its first lead of the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. Jag juniors Jeff Cunningham and Joel Collins got things started in the inning with a pair of hits. Cunningham singled to left to start the inning and then moved around to third on Collins double down the left field line. Jag designated hitter Chris Davis then plated USA’s first run with an RBI ground out. Two batters later, Bunky Kateon put South Alabama up 2-1 with a sacrifice fly to right, bringing in Collins.
The Trojans answered right back and tied the contest back up at 2-2 the very next inning. With two outs, Clint Robinson blasted a solo shot over the wall in right. For Robinson, it was his team-leading 17th home run of the season.
In the third, USA looked as if it was going to do some damage when it loaded the bases with just one out, but Troy starting pitcher Clegg Snipes was able to get out of the jam without surrendering any runs.
Troy also loaded the bases with one out in the sixth, but unlike the Jags, the Trojans were able to capitalize on their scoring opportunity. Ramirez delivered the first run of the inning when he dropped in a single to shallow right, scoring pinch runner Bryan Miller. Robinson followed the Ramirez blooper with a solid single back up the middle that plated two more runs and increased the Trojan advantage to 5-2.
The Trojans added three more runs and increased its lead to 8-2 in the seventh. With the bases loaded and two outs, Ramirez lined a two-run single that went back up the middle and deflected off Jag reliever Tyler Kerns’ glove, bringing in a pair of runs. Robinson then drove in his fourth run of the night with a single of his own.
USA responded back with four runs in the bottom of the inning and narrowed the deficit to two (8-6). With one out in the inning, David Doss lined a double that got past Trojan leftfielder Ben Woods, allowing Lance Heisler and Clint Toomey to score. Cunningham followed Doss with a single of his own that drove in the Jag third baseman. South Alabama added one more run later in the inning when with two outs and the bases loaded, Ryne Jernigan drove in Cunningham with an RBI ground out.
That was all the scoring USA got the rest of the way as Josh Dew came into pitch two scoreless innings of relief for Troy.
Snipes (6-5) picked up the win for the Trojans, while Dew picked up his 10th save of the season. Lance Baxter took the loss for USA and falls to 3-3.
Robinson and Ramirez drove in all eight runs for Troy on the night each recording four RBIs. Clint Toomey was a perfect 4-for-4 on the evening for the Jags.
