Saturday, February 28
Tony Robichaux Claims Career Win No. 1,000 in Cajuns Victory over No. 24 Alabama
HOOVER, Ala. – Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball head coach Tony Robichaux notched his 1,000th career victory on Saturday as his Cajuns defeated No. 25 Alabama 6-5 at the Hoover Met to even the series with the Crimson Tide.
With the victory, Robichaux becomes the 17th active Division I head coach to post 1,000 career victories and is 10 wins away from reaching the top 50 all-time in career wins.
"The important thing to me is that all of these wins have come at a mid-major school, and we have had to claw and fight for every one of them," head coach Tony Robichaux said. "I have been fortunate to have some great coaches help me reach this milestone bringing in good class after good class. I've also been fortunate to see well over 100 of those wins come with my two sons on the team."
Junior Colton Lee was outstanding in relief for the Ragin' Cajuns (5-5) throwing three scoreless innings to close out the ball game and earn his third save of the season. Lee had three strikeouts in the contest.
Reliever Riley Cooper improved to 2-0 on the year after coming into the game in the sixth and recorded a big strikeout to end the Alabama threat.
Thomas Burrows was saddled with the loss for the Crimson Tide (7-3) allowing the game-winning run in the seventh on two hits with two walks and struck out five in 2.1 innings.
"This team is growing up," Robichaux said. "We had so many chances to let this one get away from us, but we held tough in pressure situations to get the win. It certainly wasn't pretty, but we needed to get weathered against a good ball club. This was a great chance for us to do just that."
The Tide and Cajuns each had 11 hits in the contest. Junior catcher Nick Thurman had a career day at the plate going 4-for-5 with two doubles and drove in two. All four of Thurman's hits came with two strikes as both the four hits and two doubles are career highs for Thurman.
"I'm really proud of Nick," Robichaux added. "This is what we expected of him when we brought him in. He had to play behind Mike Strentz the last two years, and now that he is getting more chances to play he is doing something about it."
Senior Greg Davis also posted a pair of doubles and two RBI in the game, while Stefan Trosclair had a 2-for-3 effort at the plate.
Mikey White led the way for Alabama offensively going 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI. Casey Hughstrom had three of the Crimson Tide's six doubles on the afternoon.
The Ragin' Cajuns took their first lead of the series in the top of the second as Joe Robbins brought home Tyler Girouard on a ball hit to center field to make the score 1-0.
Robbins made a big play in the field in the bottom of the third when he threw out Bama catcher Will Haynie at the plate from centerfield on a single up the middle by Chandler Avant to preserve the 1-0 advantage for the Cajuns.
Louisiana extended the lead to 3-0 in the top of the fourth on a pair of RBI doubles by Davis and Thurman.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Tide registered a five-run inning to take a 5-3 edge in the game. Chance Vincent brought home J. C. Wilhite for the first run of the inning on a sac fly to right center. With two outs and the bases loaded, White sent a double down the left field line to clear the bases and give Alabama a 4-3 lead. Hughston tallied the final run of the inning as he doubled home White.
The Cajuns regained the lead in the top of the seventh plating three runs on four hits to go ahead 6-5. Davis pulled Louisiana within a run as he sent a two-out double to right to score Brenn Conrad from first base. In the next at bat, Girouard singled throught the left side of the infield to score Davis and even the contest.
Thurman came through with the eventual game-winning hit as he singled home Girouard from second to make the score 6-5. Girouard made a heads up base running play as he was able to move up to second on the throw home by Ryan Blanchard who was trying to cut down Davis.
Robbins made another crucial play in the field in the bottom of the ninth. With one out and White on first, Hughston sent a double into right field. The relay throw missed the cutoff on its way back to the infield, which caused White to take off for home. Robbins, who had moved to third base in the ninth, was able to scoop up the errant throw and made a strong, accurate throw to plate to cut down White at the plate for the second out of the inning.
Hughston made his way to third on the play, but would be stranded there as Lee induced a ground ball out by Kyle Overstreet to short to end the contest.
Louisiana and Alabama will face off in the deciding game of the series tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the Hoover Met. Freshman left-hander Gunner Leger has been tabbed as the starting pitcher for the Ragin' Cajuns and will face right-hander Geoffrey Bramblet for the Crimson Tide. Bramblett leads Bama with two victories on the year.
Mountaineers Clip No. 12 Maryland, 9-7
EMERSON, Ga. — Freshman Conner Leonard drove in five runs and junior Grayson Atwood had four hits to lead Appalachian State University baseball to a 9-7 victory over No. 16 Maryland on Saturday afternoon at LakePoint Complex.
The victory was Appalachian State’s first over a top 25 team since it beat No. 8 NC State, 6-3, in the 2013 season opener but is the Mountaineers’ 12th win over a power-conference opponent since 2012.
After falling behind 3-1 in the first inning, Appalachian State (4-4) took the lead for good on Leonard’s two-out, three-run double in the top of the third.
An inning later, Leonard delivered another huge two-out hit, this time doubling in two runs to cap a five-run stanza and give the Mountaineers a commanding 9-3 advantage. Brandon Burris homered and Atwood had an RBI single to go along with Leonard’s two-run double in the fourth.
Maryland (6-2) scratched its way back into the game with two runs in the fifth inning and another in the sixth to cut App State’s lead to 9-6.
The score remained 9-6 until the bottom of the ninth when the Terps led off with a hit batter and a single to bring the tying run to the plate with no outs. However, Appalachian State senior Taylor Thurber came on and, despite allowing an inherited runner to score, retired all three batters that he faced to seal the victory.
Atwood (4-for-5) and Leonard (3-for-5) paced a season-best 15-hit attack for Appalachian. Michael Pierson and Dillon Dobson added two hits apiece. Pierson reached base and scored three times, extending his streak of consecutive games reaching base to 38. Coming into the weekend, he was tied for the third-longest on-base streak in the nation.
Freshman southpaw Ryan Ross allowed only two hits in four innings of relief to earn his second win of the young season while Thurber picked up his first save of the campaign.
Appalachian State looks for a series victory when it plays the rubber match of its three-game set with Maryland on Sunday at noon.
A-State Sweeps Saturday DH, Series at HBU
HOUSTON, Texas (2/28/15) – The Arkansas State baseball team used an offensive explosion and strong pitching to sweep a doubleheader versus Houston Baptist by scores of 13-2 and 2-1 to earn a series sweep over the Huskies Saturday at Husky Field in Houston, Texas.
A-State (7-3) starter Jon Glidewell allowed one run in the bottom of the first inning in game one, but saw his offense pick him up in the top of the second. The Red Wolves loaded the bases with no outs after a single, walk, and bunt single, but HBU (5-6) starter Matthew McCollough was able to get the next two outs without a run scoring. However, Joe Schrimpf turned on the first pitch he saw and he a grand slam over the left field fence to put A-State on top 4-1.
Tanner Ring began the next inning with a home run of his own to left field to push the score to 5-1. McCollough hit Stuart Levy and Matt Burgess doubled down the left field line to put the Houston Baptist starter in hot water again with runners on second and third with no one out. Lucas Feddersen registered his first RBI of the year on a fielder’s choice to shortstop that saw no out recorded on the play and A-State extended its lead to 6-1.
Jeremy Brown singled home Burgess and the Huskies made a move to the bullpen to Ross Kennell with the score 7-1 in favor of the Red Wolves. Tim Seldomridge greeted Kennell with another A-State run on a safety squeeze that scored Feddersen and Ty White grounded out to second base to score another run to cap the scoring in the inning with A-State taking a 9-1 lead to the bottom of the third.
Glidewell cruised until allowing an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth inning that cut A-State’s advantage to 9-2, but the Red Wolves tacked on three more runs in the eighth inning on two sacrifice flies and a wild pitch to set the score at 12-2. A-State added another run in the top of the ninth after Daltan Lovell was plated on a pinch-hit single to center field by Eric Wilcoxson to set the final score at 13-2 in favor of A-State.
Glidewell earned his first career victory in only his second appearance since last pitching in 2012. He tossed six innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits with two strikeouts. The A-State bullpen of Cody Jackson, Tanner Kirby, and Adam Grantham tossed three scoreless innings with only one hit allowed.
Offensively, Brown led A-State with three hits, while Burgess and Ring both had two hits apiece. Seven different Red Wolves drove in runs with Schrimpf leading the charge with five, while White added two of his own.
Game two started out well for Arkansas State also as White hit the first pitch of the game into center field for a single and advanced to third on an errant throw by the centerfielder. Schrimpf hit a sacrifice fly to center field to plate White for his sixth RBI of the day and give the Red Wolves an early 1-0 edge.
The Red Wolves scored their final run of the day in the top of the fifth inning when Brown hit a home run to left field for a 2-0 A-State lead. That run would prove to be huge as the Huskies were able to score an unearned run off A-State reliever Coulton Lee in the bottom of the eighth inning on an errant throw from the outfield. However, Lee was able to keep the score 2-1 and worked around a one-out double in the bottom of the ninth to clinch the 2-1 win for the Red Wolves.
Tyler Zuber ran his scoreless streak to 14 innings with six strong innings against HBU. The sophomore pitcher allowed two singles and struck out four, while walking two to earn his second win of the season. Lee threw the final three innings and allowed an unearned run on two hits with one strikeout as he earned his first career save.
The top eight hitters in the A-State order recorded at least one hit with the lead-off man White tallying two to lead the squad. Schrimpf and Brown knocked in the only two Arkansas State runs of the game.
Jags Sweep Brown in Saturday Twinbill
MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama baseball team secured its second series win of the season with a doubleheader sweep of Brown Saturday at Stanky Field.
Game 1 – USA 13, Brown 12 (10 inn.)
Matt Bolger delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th inning to lead the Jaguars to a 13-12 win over Brown in game one of Saturday's doubleheader.
South Alabama (8-3) faced a three-run deficit heading into its final at-bat in game one, but rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings.
USA cut the Brown lead to 12-10 when Daniel Martinez singled to right field with no outs to score Cole Billingsley, who reached on a leadoff walk. A sacrifice fly to left-center field by Cameron Cummings scored Adam Ballew to cut the Brown lead to one run. Following a walk by Davis Knapp to load the bases, Drew LaBounty received a base on balls to score Bolger – who pinch-ran for Martinez earlier in the inning – and tie the game 12-12.
The Jaguar rally in the 10th inning started with a leadoff walk by Ballew on four straight pitches. Billingsley followed with a bunt-single before a wild pitch from Brown left-hander Austin French moved both runners into scoring position. After working the count to 3-1, Bolger delivered the game-winning hit into center field.
Four Jaguars recorded multiple hits in game one, led by Bud Collura who went 3-for-6 with a double, one run scored and tied a career high with four RBI. Billingsley finished 3-for-5 with two RBI and one run, and Ballew added two hits, two RBI and two runs.
Brown jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a one-out RBI double down the left-field line by Josh Huntley, and RBI groundout to first by Marc Sredojevic. The Bears extended their lead to 5-0 in the top of the second, highlighted by an RBI sacrifice fly to right field off the bat of Nick Fornaca and an RBI single to right-center from Huntley.
USA pushed its first two runs of the game across in the bottom of the second on a one-out RBI single to right field from Collura that scored Ryan Raspino from second, and a sacrifice fly to center field by Ballew that plated Collura and cut the Brown lead to 5-2.
But Brown answered with four runs in the top of the third on a grand slam to left field by Robert Henry to push its lead to 9-2. The Bears added to their lead with their 10th run of the game on a one-out single to left-center field by Kevin Guthrie for a 10-2 advantage.
South Alabama responded with two runs in the bottom of the fourth on a one-out, two-run double down the left-field line by Collura to cut the Brown lead to 10-4. The Jags cut the Bear lead in half at 10-5 one inning later on a two-out RBI single to center field by LaBounty.
Brown answered with a run in the top of the sixth on a two-out RBI single to right-center field by Brian Ginsberg for an 11-5 lead.
But the Jags responded by loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh, and cut the Bear lead to 11-6 on an RBI single to first base by Collura. Ballew followed with an RBI single through the left side of the infield to cut the Brown lead to 11-7, which also left the bases loaded. Billingsley then delivered a two-run single to right field to cut the Jaguar deficit to two runs.
Brown answered with with a solo home run to left field by Huntley to lead off the top of the eighth and extend its lead to 12-9 before USA's three-run ninth to extend the game.
Jaguar right-hander Ben Taylor (1-0) earned his first win of the season with one scoreless relief inning, and finished with a pair of strikeouts and one walk. Austin French (0-1) suffered the loss for the Bears, allowing one run on two hits with one walk without recording an out.
Game 2 – USA 7, Brown 0
Right-hander Ryne Long turned in the Jags' first quality start of the season in the nightcap. Long (1-1) tossed seven scoreless innings, and allowed five hits while striking out five and issuing four walks to earn the first win of his Jaguar career.
"I just tried to pound the zone," Long said. "It was a long day. We could have easily just rolled over in that first game, but we kept battling. Our guys deserved a good start and a chance to win. It's a lot more comfortable to go out there and pitch with a lead. We didn't swing it as good in the second game, but we put them away in the later innings. (Hunter) Soleymani and (Justin) Flores came in and shut the door; it was a good win."
South Alabama spotted Long a three-run lead after the first three frames. The Jags pushed the game's first run across in the bottom of the first, and extended their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the second on a two-run triple to center field by Ballew.
Long then allowed just three hits while striking out three Brown batters over his final four innings, before giving way to Hunter Soleymani in the eighth and Justin Flores in the ninth.
"Ryne Long was great," head coach Mark Calvi said. "Quality starts have been hard to come by. We have had some decent pitchers who have not given us quality starts. Long was good last week against Arkansas; he competed his tail off. He kept us in this ballgame. He mixed all of his pitches well, and kept the running game in check. He was outstanding. The team had a lot of confidence with him out there, so that was big. He went deep into the game and did a fantastic job. He saved us from having to go to the bullpen too early. Brown can swing the bats. I was just looking for a starter that could hold down the game from the start. Long threw strikes, and really competed for us. I am super-proud of him and his effort tonight."
The Jags added the game's final runs in the bottom of the eighth on RBI singles from LaBounty and Ballew, and a two-run triple by Billingsley.
Ballew finished 2-for-5 with a triple, three RBI and a run scored in the second game to lead the Jags at the plate. Billingsley added a triple and two RBI. Robert Henry went 3-for-5 with a double to lead Brown offensively.
Brown right-hander Eddie Fitzpatrick (0-1) took the loss in the second game, allowing three runs on one hit with four strikeouts and four walks in 4 2/3 innings.
USA will attempt to sweep the four-game series Sunday at noon. Jaguar left-hander Jared Gates is scheduled to make his second start of the season.
Eight-Run First Inning Helps Panthers Clinch Series with 11-4 Win
ATLANTA -- Georgia State scored eight runs in the first inning to back a solid start by Kenny Anderson, who allowed three runs
on four hits, as the Panthers clinched their series with Ohio with an 11-4 victory Saturday at the GSU Baseball Complex.
Joey Roach drove in three runs, and Caden Bailey and Ryan Blanton added two RBI each to lead the Panthers' attack. James Clements and Justin Jones also drove in runs to help Georgia State improve to 6-4 on the season. Ohio, which entered the series at 6-0, is now 6-2.
The series concludes with a 1 p.m. game Sunday.
The Panthers jumped out quickly by sending 12 men to the plate in their eight-run first inning. Roach started the scoring with a two-run triple inside the bag at first base. Bailey drove him Roach with a groundout for the second out, and then the next six batters reached by single or walk.
Justin Jones' RBI-single extended the lead to 4-0, and then Ryan Blanton plated two more with a two-run single up the middle to chase starter Connor Sitz (2-1). After the seventh run of the inning scored on a wild pitch, James Clements capped the inning with a run-scoring single, giving the Panthers an 8-0 lead.
Ohio managed three runs in the second, aided by an infield hit and a pair of walks, but those were the only runs that Anderson (1-1) allowed. The senior left-hander pitched six innings and struck out four to earn his first victory of the season.
After allowing those three runs, the Panthers answered with single runs in the second, third and fourth innings to push their advantage to 11-3.
"Of course the eight-run first inning was huge, but equally important was scoring runs the next three innings to keep the momentum going," Georgia State head coach Greg Frady said.
"Kenny gave us a really good start," Frady continued. "He had a little trouble in the second inning, after sitting down for so long during that eight-run first, but he settled down and gave us what we needed."
Freshman Will White and Tanner Love pitched the final 2.2 innings for the Panthers, allowing no runs and just one hit between them.
Warhawks Sweep Sam Houston, Hermeling Tosses Complete Game Shutout
MONROE, La. -- ULM (5-3) received 16 strong innings from starting pitching and used several key hits to give the home team a doubleheader sweep of visiting Sam Houston State (5-6) on Saturday at Warhawk Field.
ULM 6, Sam Houston State 0 (DH Game 1)
ULM jumped on Sam Houston State starter Andrew Godail early as the Warhawks plated a trio of runs in the home half of the first inning. Keelin Rasch got things going with a RBI single with runners on the corners to bring home Cody Stone, putting the Warhawks in front, 1-0.
Later in the frame, with the bases loaded and two outs, Justin Stawychny delivered a two-RBI single through the left side to push the Warhawk lead to 3-0. During Godail’s first two starts, the Bearkat left-hander allowed just three earned runs.
Starter Alex Hermeling (2-1) retired the first seven batters he faced, but a hard hit ball back up the middle ricocheted off of him to give Sam Houston State their first hit of the game. Hermeling worked around the hit to keep the shutout going.
In the sixth, Stawychny delivered another two-out hit as he connected on a two-runner homer to push the Warhawks lead to 5-0. Stawychny’s first homer of the season also plated Nathan Pugh.
In the eighth, Rasch belted his third homer of the season, a solo shot to left to conclude the scoring at 6-0.
Hermeling, who needed just 99 pitches, kept the Bearkats off balance as he limited Sam Houston State to just four hits and two walks as he logged the complete game shutout, the first for a Warhawk pitcher since Shelby Aulds logged a complete game shutout against Middle Tennessee on Apr. 21, 2012.
Stawychny led the Warhawks with a 2-for-4 effort including four RBI (all with two outs). Rasch and Pugh also had solid efforts as they combined for five hits, two RBI and three runs.
Godail (0-2) was tagged the loss after allowing five earned runs on eight hits in 7.0 innings on the hill.
ULM 7, Sam Houston State 5 (DH Game 2)
Sam Houston State scored first as the Bearkats plated one unearned run in the top of the first inning. The Bearkats pushed the lead to 3-0 with a pair of unearned runs in the top half of the third.
After being held scoreless for the first three frames, the Warhawks broke through with a pair of runs in the home half of the fourth. Nathan Pugh led off the inning with a double and moved to third on an error by right fielder Travis Lee. Pugh came in to score on a RBI double to left center by Jacob Stockton. Later in the frame, Stockton came in to score on a sac fly by Dalton Todd.
Sam Houston State pushed the lead to two runs (4-2) on a solo homer by Miles Manning to lead off the fifth.
The Warhawks responded with a trio of runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 5-4 lead. Keelin Rasch, Pugh and Stockton all registered one RBI in the inning that saw ULM take a one-run advantage.
ULM was able to push the lead to three runs at 7-4 as Todd recorded another sac fly and Josh Faciane drove in Justin Stawychny with a RBI single to left.
Sam Houston State made things interesting in the ninth, but the Bearkats were only able to scratch across one run as ULM held on for the 7-5 win.
Brandon Bell tossed seven strong innings as he fanned eight and scattered two walks, three hits and four runs (one earned) to improve to 2-1 on the season. Keegan Curtis closed out the game and earned the save for the Warhawks after allowing one unearned run on two hits with one strikeout in two innings.
Kodie Tidwell tallied two hits, two walks and one run, while Stockton had two hits, two RBI and one run. Todd added a pair of RBI as he drove in two with a pair of sacrifice flies.
Odom (0-2) was credited with the loss after allowing four earned runs (five total) on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts in 4.1 innings.
UALR Sweeps Doubleheader against SIU-Edwardsville
LITTLE ROCK – The UALR baseball team shut out SIU-Edwardsville by scores of 2-0 and 7-0 in a doubleheader at Gary Hogan Field on Saturday.
Senior Sam Vogel was the offensive player of the day with one homer, one double, five RBIs and two runs in six at-bats.
The Trojans’ pitchers struck out 20 batters and gave up just eight hits between the two games against the Cougars.
“The thing that sticks out from today is going 18 scoreless innings on the mound,” head coach Chris Curry said. “It doesn’t matter who you’re playing, that’s impressive anytime you’re putting up zeroes on the mound. That’s a big lift mentally. I just think we were ready to go today and I’m proud of our club. It’s hard to beat anyone in Division I baseball twice in a doubleheader.”
In the second game of the day, UALR kept the runs coming as the Trojans scored two in the first inning. Senior Petr Sila struck out, but reached first on a wild pitch. Senior Sam Vogel then came to the plate and doubled to right center, scoring Sila from first. After Vogel advanced to third on a sac fly by Ryan Scott, junior Kyle Kirk hit an RBI single to center to bring home Vogel.
Starting pitcher Sam Thoele ended the first inning with two strike outs after catching the Cougars’ batters swinging and looking. Thoele put up three more strikeouts in the third, with one reaching on a passed ball.
UALR set themselves up for another run in the bottom of the third inning after Sila once again singled. With Vogel back at the plate, Sila stole second. After Vogel struck out, Ryan Scott was intentionally walked to put runners at first and second with one out. After another fly out, Kirk once again put one through to center, bringing home Sila and earning his second RBI of the game.
The Trojans’ had a monster inning in the fourth. After Drew Merten was hit by a pitch and Mitchell Scheuler reached first on a dropped third strike, the two runners successfully pulled off a double steal. Two batters later, Vogel came up with the Trojans’ first home run of the season, sending a three-run shot over the left field wall. The inning wasn’t over just yet as Scott launched a solo shot over the right field wall to give UALR back-to-back home runs.
“Sam Vogel crushed it,” said Curry. “Any ball that hits the top of the wall is hit hard. Then Ryan Scott has as much power as anyone in the ball park. What a coming-out party he’s having.”
Senior Dyllon Brownmiller took over for Thoele in the sixth and was lights out the rest of the way. Brownmiller struck out six, gave up one hit and earned the save in four innings of relief. Thoele earned his first win of the year in five innings on the mound with five strikeouts, giving up just two hits.
“What a great job Brownmiller did,” said Curry. “Pitching with a lead, sometimes there’s a let up. Dyllon Brownmiller is a captain, and he’s a captain for a reason.”
The story was much of the same in the first game of the doubleheader. Sophomore Cory Malcom got the start and struck out the first two batters to begin the game.
In the second inning, senior Tanner Rockwell was hit by a pitch, extending his on-base streak to 18 games. Junior James Gillean singled through the right side, advancing Rockwell to third. After Gillean stole second, freshman Kyle Barret picked up the RBI after scoring Rockwell from third on a ground out to second.
The game remained quiet until the sixth inning when UALR finally put their second run on the board. Sila led off with a single to left, but soon advanced to third after the pitcher made an error on a pick-off attempt to first. Vogel came through with an RBI sac fly to right field, scoring Sila. After the score, Scott tripled to right field, forcing an SIUE pitching change. Two straight ground outs ended the inning with Scott left on third.
Senior Cameron Allen took over on the mound in the eighth after Malcom pitched seven fantastic innings. Malcom left the game with five strikeouts and gave up just three hits and three walks on 109 pitches. Allen struck out four and gave up two hits as he closed the door on the Cougars, picking up his second career save.
“I think that Allen-Malcom combination can be pretty tough on folks,” said Curry.
After all was said and done, Sila ended the day with four hits and three runs in nine at-bats while Kirk got three hits and two RBIs in seven at-bats.
Scott kept his hot streak going with a homer, a triple, one RBI and a run in five at-bats while also walking twice.
UALR will go for the series sweep against SIU-Edwardsville tomorrow at Gary Hogan Field with the first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m.
Troy Falls to Southern Miss; Rubber Match Set for Sunday
TROY, Alabama – A catcher's interference call in the 10th inning gave Southern Mississippi the second chance it needed as the Golden Eagles went on to score four runs in the frame and claim a 6-2 victory over Troy on Saturday at Riddle-Pace Field. To help raise money to support troops at home and abroad, both teams wore special camouflage uniforms in the "Hits for Heroes" game.
Southern Miss (4-4-1) earned a leadoff walk off reliever Marc Skinner (1-2) and quickly sacrificed him into scoring position. After an intentional walk put runners on the corners, Skinner got a ground ball for what seemed to be the final out of the inning, but a catcher's interference call loaded the bases and Daniel Keating cleared them with a triple off the wall in right.
Troy's Grant Bennett took a no-hitter into the seventh, while Southern Miss' Cody Carroll didn't allow a hit until the eighth. Bennett surrendered a one-out single in the seventh before Tim Lynch launched an 0-2 pitch over the wall in right field to give the Golden Eagles a 2-0 lead. Jo-El Bennett reached on an infield single in to lead off the eight to get the Trojans in the hit column.
For Grant Bennett, the runs were the first earned runs allowed all season and the first runs of any kind allowed in his last 11 innings on the bump.
Troy (7-3) finally got things going offensively when Nick Masonia and Logan Hill walked to start the bottom of the ninth. After Trevin Hall sacrificed both runners over, David Hall entered the game as a pinch-hitter and lined a 1-0 pitch off the wall in right to tie the game. The Trojans had a chance to win it with the bases loaded and two outs but a strikeout ended the threat and send the game to extra innings.
Despite the lack of hits, Troy was able to get runners on base in the first, second and third innings but double plays ended each threat. Clay Holcomb walked in the third inning and has now reached base in 25 of his last 26 games.
Troy and Southern Miss will play the rubber match of the three-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Central Michigan Sweeps Bobcats on Saturday
SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State started Saturday strong despite unfavorable weather, leading for the first six innings of game one. Unfortunately, Central Michigan made a furious comeback with 14 runs in the last three innings of Saturday's opening game to win game one, 14-6. Then, after seven scoreless innings of game two, the Chippewas scored three runs in the eighth inning and added two more in the 10th to survive Texas State, 5-3.
Pasquale Mazzoccoli and Scott Grist did stellar jobs Saturday. Grist opened the day with 6.1 innings, not allowing an earned run and striking out six batters. Meanwhile, Mazzoccoli, in his second start, went 7.1 innings and only gave up two earned runs, both coming in the eighth inning.
A combination of walks, passed balls and wild pitches did Texas State in at the end of game one. In the second game, the Bobcats couldn't get timely hits until the ninth inning. Trailing, 3-0, and with two outs, Texas State came alive in the ninth.
Cory Geisler worked the count for a walk and Granger Studdard followed with his second hit of the day. After that, in a pinch hitting role, Colby Targun knocked both runners in with a triple to left center to close the gap to 3-2. Targun scored the next play when Central Michigan committed an error on Theodore Hoffman's at bat. With the game tied, the Bobcats couldn't get the winning run across in the ninth.
In the 10th inning, the Chippewas scored two runs on two errors to go up 5-3, the eventual final score. In game one, the Bobcats were in control through six innings, leading 5-0. In the seventh, Texas State gave four bases on either walks or hit by pitch, and Central Michigan scored four runs on just one hit in the inning. They added five in the eighth and ninth each to win decisively, 14-6.
David Paiz came through with three more RBI to add to his team-leading total in the third inning. Jared Huber led off with a walk and Luke Sherley followed with an infield single. After Cody Lovejoy sacrifice bunted both runners over, Geisler worked the count for a walk.
With bases loaded for Paiz, the senior came through in a big situation yet again, knocking a double to right centerfield to plate all three base runners and put Texas State up, 3-0, after three innings of play.
In the fourth inning, Texas State added another run. Freshman Jaylen Hubbard led off the inning with a single through the left side. Huber used a sacrifice bunt to move him to second and Hubbard went to third on a groundout. After that, Central Michigan committed a throwing error when Lovejoy put the ball in play. Hubbard scored on the play to add another run to Texas State's lead.
After a scoreless fifth, the Bobcats added another run in the sixth. Hubbard again led off with a single. After that, he stole second base. He moved to third on a groundout and a Sherley single through the right side brought him in to put Texas State up 5-0 after six innings. From there, Central Michigan did its damage.
Matt Sanchez had a good game two, going 2-for-2 with two walks and four putouts in centerfield. Paiz and Hubbard led the team with three hits apiece on the day. Studdard, McElroy and Sherley added two hits apiece in the doubleheader.
Texas State and Central Michigan are set for an 11 a.m. first pitch to finish off the weekend Sunday. The Bobcats will be looking to tie the series. Continue to check www.txstatebobcats.com for schedule changes in case of weather.