Friday, April 10
Hill Goes the Distance as Jags Claim Series Opener with Mountaineers
MOBILE, Ala. – Kevin Hill tossed a complete game and set a new season-high in strikeouts to lead the University of South Alabama baseball team to a 9-2 series-opening win over Appalachian State Friday at Stanky Field.
Hill (5-0) allowed two runs on six hits, and struck out a season-high 11 batters against three walks to earn his fifth straight win in as many starts. ASU right-hander Taylor Thurber (3-7) allowed eight runs on 12 hits with three strikeouts and one walk in the loss.
"Kevin was fantastic," head coach Mark Calvi said. "He went out there and did what you expect a Friday-night guy to do. I'm super-proud of his effort. It was a great way for the team to bounce back after Tuesday's loss."
Hill's complete game is the first by a Jaguar since he tossed a complete game in a win over Troy last May in Troy, Ala.
The right-hander fell behind after the Mountaineers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third on a two-out solo home run down the left-field line by Avery Jackson.
But the Jags answered to take a lead it never surrendered in the bottom of the fourth. Danny Martinez doubled down the right-field line to lead off the inning, and scored one batter later on an RBI single back up the middle by Cole Gleason. Gleason stole second then scored on a one-out RBI single to left field by Ben Gann for a 2-1 advantage. Garrett DeGallier then singled to shallow left-center field, and a throwing error by ASU third baseman Michael Pierson on the play allowed both Gann and DeGallier to move into scoring position with one out. An RBI single to right field by Ryan Raspino scored Gann to push the Jag lead to 3-1, and fielding error by ASU right fielder Drake Zupcic on the play allowed DeGallier to cross and extend the USA lead to four runs. A sacrifice fly to left field by Jared Barnes later in the inning pushed the USA advantage to 5-1.
South Alabama (23-12, 10-6 SBC) added to its lead in the bottom of the fifth when Martinez reached on a leadoff single to right-center field, and later scored on two-out RBI double down the left-field line by Gann for a 6-1 Jaguar advantage. DeGallier followed with an RBI triple off the right-field wall to plate Gann and extend the USA lead to six runs. Raspino then delivered an RBI single to center field to score DeGallier and give the Jags an 8-1 lead.
The Mountaineers added their finalrun of the game on a Jaguar fielding error in the top of the seventh to cut their deficit to six runs. USA added its final run of the game on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Seven Jaguar batters recorded hits in the game, led by Gann who went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored. DeGallier finished 3-for-4 with a triple, one RBI and two runs scored, and Raspino added two hits, two RBI and a run. Matt Brill went 2-for-4 to lead the Mountaineers at the plate.
The series will conclude Saturday with a doubleheader, beginning at noon at Stanky Field. The series finale will follow after the conclusion of game one of the twinbill.
Georgia Southern's Challenger Tosses Gem in Series Opening Win
STATESBORO, Ga. – Evan Challenger held the UT Arlington Mavericks scoreless for seven innings as the Georgia Southern Eagles took the Sun Belt Conference series opener with a 6-1 win at J.I. Clements Stadium.
The Eagles (20-15, 10-6) backed Challenger's superb effort with two runs over the first four innings, and Hunter Thomas added his seventh home run of the season in the fifth inning.
"It is always good to get the first win (in the series). Evan Challenger has been doing a good job on Friday nights and was outstanding tonight," Head Coach Rodney Hennon said. "We played pretty solid defense behind him and did enough offensively to put the game away."
Cody Lanford plated an infield single from Ryan Cleveland in the second inning to score the first run of the game.
After Chad Nack stranded two runners in scoring position with a pair of strikeouts in the third inning, Logan Baldwin drove in a run in the fourth inning with a sacrifice bunt to put GS up 2-0.
Nack (2-3) was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs – four earned - over six innings. The righthander allowed 13 hits and struck out a career best eight batters.
Matt McLean led off the game with a single through the left side, but Challenger retired him on a fielder's choice and went on to eight-straight batters over the first three innings.
Challenger (4-0) struck out two batters in the second, third and fifth innings and limited the Mavericks (14-17, 5-8) to two hits over the first five frames to earn the victory.
"Challenger really got into a good rhythm tonight. The few times they had runners in scoring position, he made some big pitches," Hennon said.
UTA got on the scoreboard with three hits including a RBI single from Levi Scott in the eighth inning.
The series continues tomorrow with a 2 p.m. first pitch. Senior Tripp Sheppard (3-2, 3.03 ERA) will get the call for the Eagles and will face lefthander Chad Vassar (2-2, 2.19 ERA).
UALR Victorious over Texas State, 4-3
LITTLE ROCK – UALR baseball (12-18, 9-6) took a narrow 4-3 win over the Sun Belt Conference’s second-place Texas State Bobcats (16-16-1, 8-5) on Friday night at Gary Hogan Field.
Three Trojans had two hits for the game including Petr Sila, Ryan Scott and Kyle Kirk. Scott’s two hits give him a team-high of 12 multiple hit games this season while also pushing his hitting streak to nine games. With two singles, Kirk extended his reached base streak to 10 games.
Starter Jarrid Garcia picked up his first win of the season as he went seven innings, striking out six and giving up three runs on just three hits. Garcia hurled a season-high of 103 pitches.
“First of all, what great weather and what a great crowd we had for the Trojan Tailgate,” head coach Chris Curry said. “It was a Friday night atmosphere, and it means the world to our players to play in front of such a good crowd.”
UALR manufactured two runs in the bottom of the first. Sila led off the inning with a single to center field, then moved to third on a single by Scott through the right side. The next batter, Tanner Rockwell, reached on a fielder’s choice that plated Sila from third. Rockwell would score later in the inning on a wild pitch to give the Trojans a 2-0 lead after an inning of play.
In the bottom of the second, Drew Merten led off the frame with a double and scored on a single by James Gillean to right-center field. Gillean stole second base and moved to third on a ground out by Sila. A two-out, RBI single by Scott plated Gillean to put UALR up 4-0 after two complete.
Texas State added a run in each of the top halves of the third and fourth innings. Luke Sherley led off the third with a walk before moving to second on a sacrifice by Cory Geisler. Sherley advanced to third base on a balk and eventually scored on a RBI groundout off the bat of Cedric Vallieres. A solo shot by Tanner Hill in the top of the fourth cut the Trojans’ lead to 4-2.
In the top of the eighth, Texas State was able to cut its deficit to one on a bunt single by Vallieres that scored Jared Huber from third. Huber singled to lead off the inning before advancing to second and third on groundouts. With Dyllon Brownmiller on to pitch for Garcia, Vallieres’ squeeze bunt rolled down the third base line, allowing Huber to slide into home safely and make it a 4-3 game. Cameron Allen came on to pitch for Brownmiller and immediately got Granger Studdard to ground out to second to end the frame.
With time running out for a comeback, Texas State’s David Paiz led off the ninth inning with a single to left field. After the single, Allen racked up two strikeouts, putting the Bobcats’ backs against a wall. Mickey Scott came on to pinch hit for Piaz and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Theodore Hoffman then walked with a 3-1 count to put runners at first and second with two outs. With a 3-2 count, Huber popped up to Gillean, sealing the game for the Trojans and giving Allen his fourth save of the season.
“We’re getting to the point in the season where every win is astronomically huge,” Curry said. “I thought Texas State’s arm had outstanding stuff.”
The Sun Belt’s best fielding team showed its strength as the Trojans allowed no errors.
“I’m proud of the way the Trojans played tonight,” Curry said. “We played a very clean college baseball game. There were a couple of base running mistakes, but no errors. There were great pitches and hits made. That was a fun game if you came out on the winning side. It was a typical Friday night game with two good arms matching up.”
UALR will go for the series win in its second game against Texas State on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Gary Hogan Field.