Saturday, March 28
Troy Sweeps Doubleheader from Alabama A&M; Pierce Ties Riddle
TROY, Alabama – Troy (14-14) took both games from Alabama A&M (16-13) in a doubleheader on Saturday at Riddle-Pace Field. With the pair of victories, Troy head coach Bobby Pierce has 434 wins at the school and is tied with legendary Trojan coach Chase Riddle for the most in program history. The teams will play the series finale at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Troy 2, Alabama A&M 1
Reid Long hit a walk-off, solo home run with one out in the ninth to lift the Trojans to a 2-1 victory in the first game on Saturday's doubleheader.
Long launched his fourth home run of the season on a 2-1 pitch off Bulldog reliever Devin Smith. The shot over the wall in right was the only run scored after the first inning.
Each team plated a run in the opening frame with Alabama A&M striking first by taking advantage of a Troy throwing error. Ben Lott reached on a fielding error with one out in the top of the first. He would advance to second on a fielder's choice and later score on a wide throw to first.
Troy was quick to respond as Clay Holcomb was hit by a pitch to lead off then quickly stole second. He advanced to third on an infield single by Nick Masonia and scored on a ground ball from Long. The stolen base was the 59th of Holcomb's career, passing Tracy Lee for sixth-most in Troy history.
Lucas Brown didn't factor in the decision, but was terrific in eight innings of work. The junior allowed just five hits and struck out nine. Jeremy McGowan (1-2) pitched a perfect ninth to collect the win. It was the 66th career appearance for McGowan, tying him with Tim Wheeler for fifth-most all-time at Troy.
Matt Sanders collected a pair of singles in the game while Adam Tewksbury and Hoke Granger also picked up hits for Troy.
Troy 8, Alabama A&M 1
TJ Binder was 5-for-5 with three doubles and Austin Crook turned in 6 1/3 solid innings on the mound as the Trojans rolled Alabama A&M, 8-1.
Binder became the first Troy player since Logan Pierce against Western Kentucky in 2012 to collect three doubles in a game. Wendell Stephens (1985) and Bryan Miller (2008) hold the single-game record for two-baggers in a contest with four.
Logan Hill launched a monster sole home run to left to start the scoring in the second inning. Later in the frame, Shaw Pinnell singled home Peyton Fuller to give Troy a 2-0 advantage. The home run was the fourth of the season for Hill, tying him with Reid Long for the club lead. Hill finished the game 3-for-5 and now has eight multi-hit game this year.
The Trojans added a run in the fifth when Binder singled with two outs to plate Hill. Troy built its lead to 6-0 in the sixth on Hoke Granger's first home run as a Trojan – a three-run shot just inside the foul pole in left.
Andrew Utterback hit a solo homer to start the seventh in what was the only blemish on Crook's score line. Crook finished with four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings to earn his second win of the season.
Cameron Sanders doubled home a run in the seventh and Long followed two batters later with an RBI single.
Trojans Earn Second Consecutive Walk-Off Win Against Mountaineers
LITTLE ROCK – UALR baseball (9-13, 6-4) recorded its fourth walk-off win of the season with a safety squeeze in the bottom of the ninth inning to take a 4-3 win over Appalachian State (7-20, 2-9) on Saturday.
Unitl Saturday, UALR had never started conference play with a 6-4 record, including when it was a member of the Trans America Athletic Conference from 1981 to 1991.
Saturday’s walk-off win over the Mountaineers comes on the heels of a walk-off win on Friday night. All four of UALR’s conference wins at home this season have come on walk-off hits in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Down 3-0 to begin the ninth inning, the Trojans got a leadoff single down the left field line by Tanner Rockwell. On five pitches, Kyle Kirk walked to put runners on first and second with no outs. This prompted Appalachian State to go to the bullpen for the first time, replacing starter Jeffrey Springs. Springs was looking for the complete game shutout, but his day was done as Caleb McCann came on in relief after 123 pitches.
Justin Steelmon came on to pinch run for Kirk after the walk and advanced to second after Drew Merten grounded out to the pitcher, putting both runners in scoring position with one out. After giving up a five-pitch walk to James Gillean load the bases, McCann was replaced by Robert Whaley after just 0.1 innings on the mound.
With a 1-1 count, Mitchell Scheuler hit an infield single to third, scoring Rockwell for the Trojans first run. UALR called on Petr Sila to pinch hit, and what a decision it was as he hit a single to right to score Gillean and Steelmon to tie the game at 3-3.
With runners on the corners, Jason Prevatt stepped into the box with one out. On the very first pitch, Prevatt laid a bunt down the first base line to successfully pull off the safety squeeze as Scheuler crossed the plate for the game-winning run.
“What a great call by Coach Russell Raley to call the squeeze with Prevatt at the plate,” head coach Chris Curry said. “We practice that situation all the time.”
UALR trailed early after a dropped fly ball with two outs in the second inning opened the doors for Appalachian State to score three runs.
Sophomore starter Cory Malcom almost went the distance by pitching 8.0 innings and giving up just three hits, three unearned runs and a walk.
After 107 pitches, Dyllon Brownmiller took over for Malcom to begin the top of the ninth. Brownmiller didn’t allow a runner to get on base and struck out one in his only inning of work.
“We were able to execute things that we have been working on,” Curry said. “That’s important for them because practice can get monotonous to a player, and now they see how you can win a game with it.”
After winning the series on Saturday, UALR will go for the series sweep against Appalachian State on Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. at Gary Hogan Field.
Three-Run Eighth Lifts Cajuns Past Red Wolves
LAFAYETTE, La. – The Ragin' Cajuns baseball team rallied for three runs in the bottom of the eighth to defeat Arkansas State 9-6 in a back-and-forth game on Saturday at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field.
The win moves Louisiana to 14-10 on the year overall and 6-4 in league play. The Cajuns outhit the Red Wolves (11-13, 3-7 Sun Belt) 11-9 in the game led by junior outfielder Brian Mills who posted a career-high three hits to extend his hit streak to 10 games. Mills went 3-for-4 with two RBI, two stolen bases and scored a run.
Junior Blake Trahan equaled his career-best 15-game hit streak going 1-for-4 with an RBI and scored twice. Dylan Butler and Stefan Trosclair each had a pair of hits in the game. Trosclair's single in the fourth moved his hit streak to seven games.
Reliever Chris Charpentier improved his record to 2-2 on the season registering the win after tossing 1.2 scoreless innings with four strikeouts to close out the game.
Coulton Lee took the loss for Arkansas State after giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks in an inning of work.
Offensively, Zach George was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate for the Red Wolves with a double and drove in one run.
Arkansas State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on an RBI single by Stuart Levy and a RBI triple by Collin Massanelli.
In the bottom of the third, Greg Davis drove a sac fly into deep center with Trahan on second and Trosclair on third to cut the ASU lead to 2-1. In the next at bat, Nick Thurman lined a ball back up the middle to single in Trahan and even the contest at 2-all.
Matt Burgess singled in a run with two outs in the top of the fifth to put the Red Wolves back in front 3-2.
The Cajuns would answer in the bottom of the sixth loading the bases with two outs for Mills. The junior deposited a two-run single into center to give Louisiana its first lead of the day at 4-3.
ASU would answer though in the top of the seventh notching two runs on a sac fly by Austin Baker and an error by Davis at first base to take its third lead of the afternoon.
The back-and-forth affair continued in the bottom half of the seventh when Butler launched his third home run of the year over the fence in left for a two-run homer and make the score 6-5 Ragin' Cajuns.
The Red Wolves scored a run without the benefit of a hit in the top of the eighth as George drew a one-out, bases-loaded walk to even the game at 6-all. Charpentier then came on for Louisiana and got two huge strikeouts with the bases loaded to keep the game tied.
The Cajuns exploded for three runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a 9-6 advantage. Trosclair scored the eventual game-winning run on a ball hit to shortstop by Trahan with one out in the inning. After Davis was intentionally walked to load the bases, Mills came home to score on missed suicide squeeze attempt that turned into a triple steal for the Cajuns. Thurman brought home the final run of the contest on a RBI ground out to third.
The Ragin' Cajuns and Red Wolves meet in the rubber match tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the "Tigue". Freshman right-hander Evan Guillory will face off against ASU right-hander David Owen.
Following the series finale with Arkansas State, the Cajuns will head to Metairie, La. to face No. 1 LSU in the Wally Pontiff Classic.
Eagles Even Series with 12-3 Win in Game Two against Bobcats
SAN MARCOS, Texas – Hunter Thomas drove in the first four runs for the Georgia Southern Eagles as they evened the series with a 12-3 win over the Texas State Bobcats on Saturday.
The Bobcats (11-14-1, 7-4) scored two runs in the first inning on a two-out single from Tanner Hill, but Eagle (17-12, 7-4) starter Tripp Sheppard settled in to pick up his second win of the season.
Sheppard (2-2) set down the side in order in the second and third innings and got a double play in the fifth inning to erase a lead off walk. The senior righthander allowed three runs – one earned – over six innings. Sheppard allowed just four hits and struck out three batters in his fifth start of the season.
Thomas gave the Eagles the lead with a three-run homer in the third inning, his fifth of the season. The junior plated a two-out double and a walk with a ball over the right field fence.
Thomas plated his fourth run of the game with a RBI single in the fifth inning. The Eagles got two more runs in the frame on a base hit from Dalton Busby. GS tacked on three more runs in the sixth inning to lead 9-2.
Georgia Southern tallied 20 hits for the second time this season. Thomas, Aaron Mizell and Ryan Cleveland all finished with four hits. Mizell, Chase Griffin and Thomas also scored four runs each.
Scott Grist took the loss after allowing 9 runs on 13 hits. Grist (1-2) surrendered 13 hits and walked two batters on 102 pitches.
The same two teams will meet tomorrow to wrap up the series with a 1 p.m. ET first pitch. Neither team has named a starter for Sunday's game.
Panthers Sit Atop Sun Belt After 6-4 Win over UT Arlington
Arlington, Texas -- Justin Jones and Caden Bailey drove in the go-ahead runs in the top of the 11th inning and Kevin Burgee saved his second straight game as Georgia State clinched its series at UT Arlington with a 6-4 win to move into first place in the Sun Belt Conference.
The Panthers are now 16-12 overall, 5-2 in the Sun Belt as they won their fourth straight Sun Belt road game and clinched their second road series after winning only three conference road games all of last season.
Senior David Levy led off the top of the 11th inning with a single to left off Colin Tornberg (1-1), and then Ryan Blanton smashed a double to the right field corner to put runners at second and third. Jones, the Panthers' freshman shortstop, brought home the go-ahead run with a long fly ball to foul territory in right, and then Bailey added an insurance run with a single to right center.
With a 6-4 lead in hand, Burgee closed it out with three straight ground balls to Jones at short as the senior right-hander earned his fifth save of the season and the 13th of his career. He is just one shy of the GSU career record of 14, held by Justin Malone.
Georgia State has played five extra-inning games in its last 12 contests, winning four of them, and in each victory, Blanton has gotten a key hit in the Panthers' final at-bat.
Blanton had two doubles and two singles today and is 6-for-11 in the series. Catcher Joey Roach also had four hits today and is 6-for-9 in the two games.
The quartet of Levy, Blanton, Jones and Bailey also produced three runs in the seventh as Georgia State turned a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead. Levy started the rally with one out by beating out an infield single, and then Blanton doubled to right field. Jones fell behind 0-2 before delivering a run-scoring single to left field. Bailey followed with a two-run double to right center for the 4-2 advantage.
UT Arlington (12-13, 4-4) tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the eighth on a sacrifice fly and an error.
Panther freshman righty Logan Barnette (1-0) came on in the bottom of the 10th with one and one out needed just one pitch to roll a 4-6-3 double play to earn his first victory.
GSU Starter Kenny Anderson pitched 5.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. Senior Jerry Stuckey pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in his 81st career appearance, tying the Georgia State record held by Bobby Bennett. Stuckey worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh by ending the inning with back-to-back strikeouts on called third strikes.
Georgia State's defense played a key role in the win as the Panthers turned two double plays, and freshman left-fielder Will Johnson threw out a runner at the plate.
The series concludes with a 2 p.m. ET game Sunday.
Jags Take Game Two Over ULM; Wins Series
MONROE, La. – The University of South Alabama baseball team pounded out 14 hits and used two three-run innings to defeat Louisiana-Monroe 9-4 Saturday at Warhawk Field.
USA (18-9, 7-4 SBC) clinched the series with the win, and will go for its first SBC series sweep in Sunday's finale, which is scheduled for a 1 p.m. first pitch.
ULM (12-12, 2-6 SBC) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Anthony Herrera led off with a double down the left-field line, and scored one batter later on an RBI double to right field by Keelin Rasch. Justin Stawychny followed with an RBI groundout to second to double the ULM lead.
USA answered in the top of the second on a two-out RBI single to right-center field by Garrett DeGallier to score Danny Martinez, who reached on a one-out single to center field earlier in the inning, to cut the Warhawk lead to 2-1.
USA took a 4-2 lead in the top of the third on a two-out, three-run home run to right field by Martinez, and pushed its lead to 5-2 one inning later on an RBI groundout to shortstop off the bat of Jared Barnes that scored Ryan Raspino.
The Jags loaded the bases with one out in the top of the sixth with a three-run lead, and added its sixth run of the game on a sacrifice fly to right-center field by Ballew. Martinez followed with a two-out RBI infield single to first base that plated Barnes, who singled earlier in the frame, to extend the Jag lead to 7-2. Cameron Cummings then delivered an RBI single through the right side of the infield to score Collura, who also singled behind Barnes, for an 8-2 Jaguar advantage.
ULM pushed its final runs of the game across in the bottom of the sixth on a one-out RBI single to right field by Danny Springer and a sacrifice fly to right field by Jacob Stockton to cut the USA lead in half at 8-4.
DeGallier reached on a fielding error by ULM second baseman Herrera to lead off the inning, and later scored on a suicide squeeze play by Billingsley with the game's final run.
Jaguar right-hander Mike Dolloff (3-0) allowed two runs on two hits and issued three walks in 5 1/3 relief innings to earn his third win of the season. Brandon Bell (3-4) took the loss for ULM, allowing five runs on eight hits with three strikeouts with one walk.
Eight USA starters recorded at least one hit in the game, led by Martinez who tied career highs in hits and RBI after finishing 3-for-5 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored. Barnes went 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Collura added two hits and one run. Rasch went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored to lead the ULM offense.