Tuesday, February 24
Troy Blanks Samford, 6-0
TROY, Alabama – Trevin Hall continued to swing a hot bat and Austin Crook was solid in his first start as Troy downed Samford 6-0 at Riddle-Pace Field on Tuesday.
Hall finished 3-for-4 in the game including a 3-run home run in the third inning. In the last three games, Hall is 7-for-12 with a double, two home runs, and six RBIs. The senior doubled in the second inning Tuesday and looped an RBI single in right field in the fifth.
Crook (1-0), in his first start, tossed five scoreless innings allowing just three hits and struck out three. Samford's (3-4) biggest threat against Crook came in the third inning when Austin Edens led off with a single and Richard Greene followed with a double. Crook struck out the next batter then forced a pair of ground balls to end the inning and strand both runners.
Troy (6-2) opened the scoring in the first inning on consecutive two-out doubles from Logan Hill and David Hall. For Hall, it was his 25th career two-out RBI. In the second, Matt Sanders laced the team's fourth double of the contest, scoring Trevin Hall and doubling the lead to 2-0.
Lucas Brown pitched two innings of relief striking out three while allowing just one hit. Perez Knowles pitched a perfect eighth and Marc Skinner tossed the ninth to close out the game. The Trojan pitching staff now owns a team ERA of 1.52, placing them in the top 10 in the NCAA. It was the third shutout of the season for the Troy staff.
Clay Holcomb continued to find a way on base as he finished 1-for-4 and has now reached base in 23 of his last 24 games. In the second inning, Holcomb stole his 52nd career base, moving him one shy of cracking Troy's career top 10 list.
The Trojans scored five of their six runs with two outs on Tuesday and have now plated 11 of their last 16 runs with two outs in the inning.
Troy's 6-2 record is the best since starting the 2013 campaign with the same mark. The Trojans last started a season 7-2 in 2011.
Tuesday's game was originally scheduled to be played in Birmingham but recent heavy rain forced the schools to flip their home-and-home dates. The Trojans will visit Samford on April 14.
Troy will host Southern Mississippi in a three-game series over the weekend. Admission to Saturday's Hits for Heroes contest will be FREE with donations being accepted throughout the game.
Two-Run Home Run in Eighth Rallies Jags Past Alabama State
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The University of South Alabama baseball team scored six unanswered runs over the final three innings to defeat Alabama State 6-3 Tuesday at Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
South Alabama (5-3) faced a three-run deficit after six innings of play. Alabama State (3-4) pushed the game's first run across in the second inning on an RBI double by Chris Biocic, and extended its lead to 3-0 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Jaguar third baseman Bud Collura reached on an infield single to second to lead off the top of the eighth inning. Later in the frame, Daniel Martinez hit the first pitch he saw from ASU right-hander Jorge Pantoja over the right-field wall to tie the game 3-3. Following a hit by pitch from Pantoja to Jared Barnes, Adam Ballew ripped the first pitch he saw into the right-center gap for an RBI double to give the Jags a 4-3 lead.
USA added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth on consecutive two-out RBI singles from Billingsley and Gleason.
"That was huge," head coach Mark Calvi said. "The game did not look good for us through 21 outs. Our guys hung in there, and our pitchers competed like crazy. (Austin) Bembnowski was pretty good, not great, but the mark of a good pitcher is still giving your team a chance when you don't have your best stuff. The guys behind him – Luke Morgan, Shane McKinley, Cody Van Aken and Ben Taylor – kept competing. We played pretty good defense behind them, and the pitchers kept competing and gave us a chance to win the game late."
USA squandered several opportunities early in the game with runners in scoring position.
Martinez led off the top of the second with a single to center field, and moved to second on a throwing error by ASU starting pitcher Hunter McIntosh on a failed pickoff attempt at first base. A groundout to second off the bat of Barnes moved Martinez to third with one out. Garrett DeGallier then lifted a fly ball into foul territory in left field which looked to score Martinez, but ASU successfully appealed the tag at third for the final out of the inning.
The Jags loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fifth when DeGallier reached on a fielder's choice, Ryan Raspino singled and Davis Knapp walked. But ASU called on right-hander Michael Tellado out of the bullpen, who rolled an inning-ending 4-3 double play off the bat of Drew LaBounty to escape the threat and preserve a one-run Hornet lead.
Cole Billingsley drew a one-out walk, and Cole Gleason reached on a hit by pitch from Tellado in the top of the sixth. A groundout to first base by Martinez moved both runners into scoring position, but Tellado got out of the inning with a flyout to center field off the bat of Barnes to preserve a three-run ASU advantage.
Alabama State threatened to add to its three-run advantage in the bottom of the sixth. Joseph Estrada reached on a Jaguar fielding error to lead off the inning. USA right-hander Luke Morgan induced a popup to third, but Collura mishandled the ball to allow Estrada to reach safely. A wild pitch from Morgan allowed Estrada to move into scoring position at second with no outs. Morgan responded with a strikeout for the first out of the frame, followed by a flyout to center field for out two. Jaguar southpaw Shane McKinley then entered in relief of Morgan and struck out P.J. Harris to strand the runner and escape the threat.
USA pushed its first run of the game across in the top of the seventh. Matt Bolger pinch-hit to lead off the inning, and reached on a walk. Two straight groundouts to second base allowed him to move to third before a passed ball by ASU catcher Chris Biocic scored Bolger from third to cut the ASU lead to 3-1.
"It didn't look good for seven innings," Calvi said. "That was a team win. Our guys hung in there and played for nine innings, and we were very fortunate to beat a very good team tonight. Alabama State probably should have been in a regional last year, and they will challenge to win their league every year with that coaching staff and the talent they have in that dugout. They can beat anyone on any given day, and they will do that this year. This was two evenly-matched teams. I have known that coaching staff for a long time. Alabama State is no one's midweek win or doormat anymore. They can beat anyone because they are talented and they are coached well."
McKinley (1-0) did not allow a hit, and finished with two strikeouts and one walk in 1 1/3 scoreless relief innings to earn his first career win at South Alabama. Right-hander Ben Taylor came on to record the final out of the game for his first save of the season. Pantoja (0-1) took the loss for ASU, allowing three runs on three hits with two strikeouts in one inning pitched.
Martinez went 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and a run scored to lead the Jaguars at the plate. Billingsley finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run, Ballew added a double and an RBI and Gleason had one hit and drove in a run. Rivera went 2-for-5 with an RBI to lead the ASU offense.
South Alabama will return to action this weekend when it hosts Brown in a four-game series at Stanky Field, with game one scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday at Stanky Field.
A-State Falls to No. 18 Ole Miss
OXFORD, Miss. (2/24/15) – The Arkansas State baseball squad dropped a 2-1 decision to No. 18 Ole Miss in nonconference action as pitching proved to be dominant Tuesday afternoon at Swayze Field/Oxford-University Stadium in Oxford, Miss.
A-State (4-3) struck first in the game after Ole Miss (5-2) starter Evan Anderson got wild after striking out Austin Baker to begin the game. He hit Zach George to extend his on-base streak to 26 games and walked the next two batters to load the bases with one out. Ty White grounded out to second to drive in George, but Joe Schrimpf grounded out to short to end the Red Wolves’ threat.
A-State starter Chandler Hawkins struck the first two batters of the game out, but Sikes Orvis worked a full count and drove a pitch over the right field bullpen to tie the game at 1-1. Hawkins walked the next batter but got a pop up to first base to keep the score at 1-1 after the first inning.
Orvis started the next Rebels’ threat with a single to start to the bottom of the fourth inning, but Hawkins struck the next two hitters out to keep Orvis at first with one out. However, he walked the next batter and Austin Knight singled to left field to score Orvis from second. The Red Wolves got out of the inning when the throw home was cut off by Tanner Ring and then flipped to Jeremy Brown, who tagged Kyle Watson out at third base.
Baker registered the Red Wolves’ first hit of the contest in the fifth inning to stop a span of 11 straight hitters retired by Anderson, but was later forced out at second base on a ground ball to short. White singled with two outs in the sixth inning and advanced to second on an errant pickoff throw, but was left stranded on second.
Stuart Levy represented A-State’s last threat with a two-out single in the eighth inning, but he was picked off first base to end the inning. Rebels’ relief pitcher Will Stokes came on to pitch the ninth and retired the Red Wolves in order to earn the save and clinch a 2-1 victory for Ole Miss.
Anderson took the win for Ole Miss after only allowing the first inning run as he gave up one hit with two walks and four strikeouts. Jacob Waguespack pitched three innings in relief for the Rebels and only allowed two hits as he walked none and struck out two.
Hawkins took the loss for A-State to fall to 1-2 on the year, but pitched well as he only allowed two runs on four hits with six strikeouts and two walks. Bo Ritter saw his first collegiate action and retired the first two batters he faced in the sixth inning before Coulton Lee came in to the contest. Lee continued his solid start to the season as he allowed no hits in 2.1 innings.
Baker, Levy, and White led the Red Wolves at the plate with one hit each, while White drove in A-State’s only run of the game.
The Red Wolves will not play SEMO Wednesday, Feb. 25 as poor field conditions have caused the cancellation of the game. A-State will return to action this upcoming weekend (Feb. 27-March 1) for a nonconference series at Houston Baptist. First pitch in Friday’s contest is set for 2 p.m.
Citadel Edges Georgia Southern, 3-2
STATESBORO, Ga. – J.P. Sears tossed five scoreless frames as The Citadel Bulldogs won the finale of an eight-game homestand 3-2.
The Citadel (4-4) jumped out to an early lead on a bases loaded walk in the second inning and the first career home run from Stephen Windham in the third.
Sears (2-1) held Georgia Southern (5-3) to three hits and struck out five batters in his first career start.
Skylar Hunter held the Eagles scoreless over the final two frames and struck out two batters for his third save of the season.
"Josh [Slate] competed for us and did a good job getting ahead but just didn't put some guys away. The combination of that and the mistakes running the bases really hurt us tonight," Head Coach Rodney Hennon said.
The Eagle bullpen tossed seven scoreless frames and kept the game within a run the final two innings. Jason Richman struck out seven batters and did not allow a run over the final 3.1 innings.
Josh Slate made his first career start and suffered the loss. Slate (0-1) allowed three runs and struck out five batters over three innings.
The Eagles scored both runs in the seventh inning. Dalton Busby reached base on a two-out error while Hunter Thomas scored from third base. Kody Adams plated Busby two batters later with a base hit up the middle.
GS finished with seven hits, three of which came off the bat of Spencer Duffie. Duffie recorded three singles in his final three at-bats.
The Eagles will leave J.I. Clements Stadium for the first time in 2015 and will travel to Jacksonville, Fla. Wednesday to take on the North Florida Ospreys. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
Cajuns Fall in 17 Innings to McNeese State
LAFAYETTE, La. – The Louisiana baseball team saw its six-game win streak against McNeese State come to an end on Tuesday night as the Ragin’ Cajuns fell to the Cowboys 5-4 in a 17-inning affair at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field.
Both teams combined to use 15 pitchers throwing over 540 pitches in a contest that lasted five hours and 16 minutes.
Freshman Logan Stoelke was tabbed with the loss for the Cajuns (4-4) as he surrendered one unearned run in the 17th inning on three hits to fall to 0-1 on the year.
The Cajuns bullpen had a strong showing as six pitchers combined to allow two runs (one earned) in 13 innings and struck out 12.
Tyler Day picked up the win for McNeese State (5-4) holding Louisiana scoreless in 1.1 innings of relief, while Austin Briggs notched his first career save for the Cowboys coming into the game in the bottom of the 17th to record the final two outs.
Offensively, Blake Trahan led the way for the Ragin’ Cajuns going 3-for-6 with an RBI and a walk. Brenn Conrad, Greg Davis, Nick Thurman and Dylan Butler each had a pair of hits in the contest.
For the Cowboys, Lewis Guilbeau and Connor Lloyd each recorded three hits as Lloyd came through with the game-winner in the 17th.
McNeese State got out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Billy Sommers scored on a throwing error by Thurman on a dropped third strike. Sommers reached third on triple to right with one out.
The Cajuns grabbed the lead in the bottom of the third scoring two runs on three hits and a McNeese State error. Kyle Clement evened the contest scoring on a throwing error by Lloyd who made an errant throw on an infield single by Butler. Later in the inning, Davis drove a double into the gap in left center to score Conrad from first to give Louisiana the advantage.
In the top of the fourth, the Cowboys regained the lead on a two-run single to left by third baseman Matt Gallier to make the score 3-2.
Trahan evened the contest at 3-all in the bottom of the fifth bringing home Butler on a safety squeeze. Butler doubled into the right field gap with one out and then advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Cameron Toole.
Louisiana loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth without the benefit of a hit. After a Clement strikeout, Gallier made a nice play on a ball hit down the third base line to get a force out at third and end the inning.
The Ragin’ Cajuns loaded the bases again in the bottom of the eight with one out, but McNeese State reliever Cory LaPeze came in and got two straight strikeouts to end the threat.
In the top of the 10th, the Cowboys went back in front 4-3 on a Sommers RBI single through the right side of the infield scoring Andrew Guillotte from second.
The Cajuns caught a break in the bottom half of the 10th as Nick Thurman was balked in for the tying run with two outs. Thurman got into scoring position when he drove a 2-2 pitch off of the wall in right center for his second triple of the season.
McNeese State loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the 15th, but reliever Reagan Bazar came through for the Cajuns getting James Cantu to ground out to second to end the inning.
Lloyd produced the game-winning run for the Cowboys in the bottom of the 17th as he sent a single through the left side of the infield to score Connor Crane from third.
With the loss, head coach Tony Robichaux will have to wait to the weekend to reach the 1,000 career win mark.
Louisiana returns to action this weekend as the Cajuns face Alabama in a three-game series at the Hoover Met in Birmingham, Ala. The opening game of the series is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Game two is set for 2 pm. Saturday, and the series finale will be Sunday at 1 p.m.