TRIMBLE PITCHES JAGS PAST NO. 11 MISSISSIPPI STATE
MOBILE, Ala. – Jaguar right-hander Sean Trimble tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings to lead the University of South Alabama baseball team to a 5-2 win over No. 11 Mississippi State Tuesday at Stanky Field.
Trimble (2-0) allowed just two hits and struck out five against two walks in 6 2/3 innings pitched to earn his second win of the season. MSU right-hander Parker Ford (0-1) allowed two runs without allowing a hit, and struck out one against two walks in 1 1/3 innings in the loss. Jaguar right-hander Matt Peacock allowed two unearned runs on one hit with four strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings to record his fifth save of the season.
"I am proud of Sean's effort," USA head coach Mark Calvi said. "He mixed his pitches well; he threw his changeup. He pitched in to (Brent) Rooker, and no one pitches him in – he is one of the best hitters in the country. Trimble did something different, and that was had guts, wasn't afraid to pitch him inside and he used his slider. I thought Sean was really good against him; that was the game plan and he executed it and I am proud of him."
"You just have to be ready when your number is called, and that's what I did," Trimble said. "I just had everything working for me. I threw strikes and stayed ahead of hitters. I'm happy and we (team) are happy, so we just have to get ready for tomorrow."
Mississippi State (25-14) threatened when it put two runners in scoring position with one out in the top of the fourth inning following a pair of hit by pitches and a wild pitch. But Jaguar right-hander Sean Trimble struck out Tanner Poole and induced a 2-3 inning-ending groundout to escape the jam and preserve a scoreless tie.
South Alabama (22-15) put the first two runners aboard in the bottom of the fifth inning on back-to-back walks by Cam Cummings and Hunter Stokes. MSU right-hander Parker Ford induced a popup to first base on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Dylan Hardy for the first out of the frame. Drew LaBounty followed with a walk to load the bases for Brendan Donovan, who delivered an RBI single to right field to score Cummings with the game's first run. Travis Swaggerty then reached on an RBI infield single on a high chopper back to the mound that scored Stokes and doubled the Jaguar lead to 2-0. Jared Barnes followed with an RBI groundout to third that allowed LaBounty to score and extend the USA lead to 3-0.
The Jags added a run to their advantage in the bottom of the seventh inning. LaBounty drew a one-out walk, and advanced to third on a single to right-center field by Donovan to put runners at the corners with one out. A walk by Swaggerty loaded the bases for Barnes, who lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score LaBounty for a 4-0 Jaguar lead.
Mississippi State put its first two batters on base in the top of the eighth inning on a fielding error by Stokes at second base and a dropped fly ball in center field by Swaggerty. Brent Rooker followed with a sacrifice fly to center field to score Hunter Stovall and cut the USA lead to 4-1. Ryan Gridley then delivered a sacrifice fly to left field to plate Trey Jolly and cut the Jaguar lead in half at 4-2.
The Jags added the game's final run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Colton Thomas reached on a one-out bunt single to third, stole second, then stole third and scored on the play when MSU catcher Dustin Skelton's throw sailed into left field.
"Tack-on runs are always big," Calvi said. "I am proud of Colton Thomas for coming off the bench and being ready to play. That run made me a little more comfortable going into the top of the ninth. They (MSU) are still a dangerous club with very capable players. Every run matters, and we got locked in a little at the end. But I wasn't pleased with the game offensively or defensively. Luckily Sean Trimble was ready to go."
South Alabama will return to action Wednesday when it hosts Alabama State at 6:30 p.m. at Stanky Field.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with USAJaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at Twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
Relievers Dominate As Mavs Topple Aggies, 3-2
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Four relievers combined to throw seven consecutive shutout innings for UTA, leading the Mavs to a 3-2 win over Texas A&M on Tuesday night, in front of the second-largest crowd in program history, 1,939 at Clay Gould Ballpark.
UTA (20-17) used a dynamic relief outing to post its first win over Texas A&M (26-12) since 2012 and its first win over the Aggies in Arlington since 2008. The Mavs fell behind after a two-run second inning for the Aggies, but got a run back in the bottom half of the frame and took a 3-2 lead with two in the third.
The Mavs then used the two-inning combination of Dylan Schneider, Austin Gardner (2-1) and Daniel James, with Trae Patterson firing a shutout seventh inning. UTA held the Aggies to just two hits and two walks over the final seven innings, striking out seven.
The win continues a blistering pace for the Mavs, who have climbed to half a game shy of first place in the Sun Belt Conference. UTA has won four of its first five conference weekends for the first time since 2005 and are off to its best start to conference play (10-5) since 2013. UTA faces a critical weekend series on Friday at ULM (5-10).
ON THE MOUND
UTA starter Jake Wilcox worked a pre-determined two-inning start, allowing four hits and two runs, fanning two.
Schneider took over to pitch in the third inning, tossing a pair of shutout innings, allowing just a hit and a walk. With a 3-2 lead, Gardner came on to start the fifth inning. Gardner fired two shutout innings, allowing just a walk with three strikeouts. Patterson started the seventh inning in relief, his first career relief outing after making nine straight weekend starts to open the year.
James came on for the final six outs, earning his ninth save of the year and the 12th of his career, allowing just a single and striking out two. James moves into third in UTA single-season history and fifth in career annals in saves.
Texas A&M starter Turner Larkins (0-1) worked four innings, allowing six hits and three runs - one earned - not issuing a walk and striking out five. John Doxakis came out of the bullpen to open the fifth inning for the Aggies, working 2.2 shutout innings, allowing only two hits and one walk, striking out three. Cason Sherrod got the final four outs, striking out three.
LEADING THE MAVS
UTA collected eight hits in the game, plating three runs and getting two walks. The Mavs got a three-hit game from Omar Salinas, who doubled for the seventh time in 2017. UTA also got hits from Zac Cook, Quintin Rohrbaugh, Brady Cox, Noah Vaughan and Aaron Funk. Colton Turner drove in a run and Cox drew a pair of walks.
HOW THEY SCORED
After a scoreless first inning, Texas A&M opened the second with back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners without an out. Jorge Gutierrez then pulled an RBI knock through the right side, scoring Nick Choruby. After the first out and a double steal, Walker Pennington scored Joel Davis with a RBI groundout.
The Mavs got a run back in the bottom of the second, getting a leadoff double from Cox. Vaughan moved Cox to third with one out and Turner scored him with a sacrifice fly.
UTA took the lead in the bottom of the third inning, getting Funk on after a misplayed grounder up the middle. After a pair of outs, Salinas reached on a slow-rolling infield single to put runners on the corners. A passed ball allowed Funk to score the tying run with two outs and two strikes on Rohrbaugh, with UTA's Rohrbaugh then ripping a two-out, RBI single to leftfield to score Salinas for a 3-2 UTA lead.
NEXT
The Mavs will return to action on Friday with a three-game series opener at ULM. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. CT in Monroe, La.
Cajuns Baseball Shuts Out Tulane To Claim Fourth Straight Win
NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team notched its eighth shutout of the season on Tuesday night as the Cajuns blanked Tulane 1-0 at Turchin Stadium to extend their win streak to a season-best four straight games.
"We had their guy one the ropes in the first inning and we let him off of the hook," head coach Tony Robichaux said. "Give him credit, he settled into the game and showed why he has been a Friday night guy for them. At that point, we knew that we were going to need to match them with pitching and defense, and we were able to do just that. Like us, they couldn't get the critical hit in the ball game. Sometimes one run is all you need to win a game, and tonight that one run stood up."
The shutout moves the Ragin' Cajuns (22-14-1, 10-4-1 Sun Belt) into a tie with Oregon for the national lead. The eight shutouts is also the most since the 2014 season when Louisiana posted 11 on the year.
Junior Colten Schmidt notched his first career victory for the Cajuns in his first ever appearance tossing 2.1 scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
Closer Dylan Moore picked up his eighth save of the year and 35th of his career tossing 2.1 scoreless innings with four walks and three strikeouts.
"I thought Evan (Guillory) came out and gave us a good start to the ballgame," Robichaux said. "Colten pitched really well having not thrown in a long time. He really can be a big weapon for us now that he's back healthy. It was also good to see D-Mo (Dylan Moore) come back and pick up another save tonight."
Sophomore left-hander Ross Massey was the tough-luck loser for Tulane (18-19) to fall to 0-5 on the year after holding the Cajuns to just one run on two hits in seven innings of work. Massey walked four and struck out three in the start.
The Green Wave outhit Louisiana 7-2 in the game with shortstop Sal Gozzo posting a game-high two hits. Tulane left 14 runners on base in the contest going 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
The Ragin' Cajuns plated the only run of the game in the top of the first as Kennon Fontenot drew a one-out, bases-loaded walk from Massey to bring home shortstop Brad Antchak. The walk was the fourth straight issued by Massey in the inning. Massey then settled in to strikeout Alex Pinero and got Brenn Conrad to ground out to shortstop to end the threat.
Tulane loaded the bases three times in the game, but each time Moore stepped up and got a big out to preserve the shutout.
In the bottom of the seventh, Moore came on to get Lex Kaplan swinging with the bases loaded and two outs to end the first threat.
After two singles and a walk loaded the bases again in the bottom of the eighth with two outs, Moore got pinch hitter Kody Hoese to foul out to catcher Handsome Monica to keep the one-run edge.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Green Wave got a one-out hit from Grant Weatherspoon followed by a Kaplan strikeout and walks to Hunter Williams and Jarret DeHart to load the bases with two outs. In the next at bat, centerfielder Grant Brown drove a 2-1 pitch from Moore into the gap in left center, but Fontenot was able to run it down in the gap to end the contest.
"When you have a night like tonight where you face an arm like that and don't get many hits, you usually see the team come back the next night and get a lot of hits," Robichaux stated. "I look for our team to do just that tomorrow night at home."
The Ragin' Cajuns return to action tomorrow night at 6 p.m. as they host Southeastern Louisiana at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park. Right-hander Jack Burk (2-4, 2.58 ERA) will make the start for Louisiana, while right-hander Derrick Mount (1-0, 3.48 ERA) will take the bump for the Lions.
Following the matchup with Southeastern La., the Cajuns head to Little Rock for a three-game series with the Trojans starting Friday at 6 p.m.
Big Bats, Schaeffer’s 7 Ks Drive Apps Past Radford
RADFORD, Va. – Led behind a career-high seven strikeouts by senior Matt Schaeffer and three multi-hit efforts at the plate, Appalachian State University baseball ended its road trip with a 7-5 victory over Radford on Tuesday night.
The Mountaineers (14-23) once again used slugging to get their runs, while pitching took care of the Highlanders’ (16-20) at-bats.
Right-handed Schaeffer provided relief in the second inning and went 5.0 innings on the night – his longest appearance of the season. Getting his second decision win of the season, he allowed just two hits and one unearned run while fanning seven, which obliterated his previous career high of three punchouts that he threw most recently against NC Central in his first career start in Charlotte, N.C. at BB&T Ballpark on March 14.
On the other side of things, the Black and Gold continued their hot hitting of late, increasing their number of home runs in the past three games to eight total. Conner Leonard went 2-for-5 and had his third jack in the last three games to keep his bat hot, while Avery Jackson had his second homer in the same timespan while going 2-for-4 on the day as well.
Matt Vernon also got in on the derby, launching a two-RBI shot to left field in the fourth inning.
Appalachian got on the board first in the second when Colin Schmid shot one of his two hits on the evening to center field for a double, which led to him being brought across the plate by Jackson on a single through the middle.
The Highlanders started the seesaw by retaking the lead in the second, but the Diamond Apps would tie things up in the third as Drake Zupcic singled to left field before a Stroup walk and a Leonard bullet through the gap brought home Zupcic.
The lead would be momentarily short-lived as Radford took the lead in the bottom of the third before the Mountaineer offensive engine revved up. In the fourth, Jackson started things off with a leadoff bomb to left field. Then, after a Brian Bauk walk, Vernon followed it up with his home run of the game to go up two.
App State then capitalized on a Tyler Stroup walk in the top of the fifth when Leonard went yard to go extend the lead.
After starting pitcher Bobby Hampton and Schaeffer, Dallas DeVrieze and Reed Howell came in to finish the final 2.2 innings, allowing no earned runs and striking out four.
The Mountaineers now return home from a five-game road trip to a seven-game homestand beginning this weekend against Georgia State. First pitch for Game One is scheduled for Friday, April 21 at 6 p.m.
Warhawks Down Grambling on Tuesday Night
GRAMBLING, La. – ULM used a three-run top of the sixth inning to grab the lead for good on Tuesday night as the Warhawks earned a 4-3 victory from Grambling in midweek action. ULM finished with four extra-base hits in the win, all coming in the top of the sixth frame.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: ULM 4, Grambling 3
Location: Wilbert Ellis Field at R.W.E Jones Park / Grambling, La.
Teams: ULM (11-27, 5-10 SBC)
Grambling (14-22, 10-8 SWAC)
TURNING POINT
-After Grambling loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth, ULM reliever Tyler Schwaner forced a shallow fly ball into left field and a pop up to second base to end the threat and keep the Warhawks’ 4-3 advantage intact in what was Grambling’s final threat of the night.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-ULM plated the first run of the night in the top of the fourth when Anthony Herrera led off the frame with a single and stole second before scoring on a hit and run RBI single off the bat of Turner Francis.
-Grambling knotted the game up in the bottom of the fourth with a RBI double from Daniel Barnett after Marshawn Taylor began the frame with a leadoff single of his own.
-The hosts posted two runs in the bottom of the fifth, first via a solo home run from Nick Wheeler before an RBI single from Taylor pushed Grambling to a 3-1 advantage.
-ULM responded with three runs in the top of the sixth on four hits, all for extra bases, as Cade Stone opened the inning with a solo homer to right center field before RBI doubles from Chad Bell and Tyler Cox pushed the Warhawks ahead.
-After Schwaner worked out of the sixth, the ULM bullpen sat down the final nine Grambling batters in order to close the night.
-Herrera and Francis each finished with two hit nights for the Warhawks in the win, while Stone, Bell and Cox each had a hit and RBI. Johnny DeLaCruz and Brian Barefoot added the other two ULM hits.
-Warhawk starter Kyle Backofen earned his first collegiate win, tossing five innings and allowing three runs on five hits with five strikeouts, while Schwaner allowed just one hit in his two innings of work before Herrera earned his sixth save of the season with two perfect innings and three strikeouts.
-Marshawn Taylor finished with three of Grambling’s six hits, while Devin Washington was saddled with the loss after allowing two runs in 1/3 of an inning of work out of the bullpen.
UP NEXT
-Following Tuesday’s game, ULM welcomes UT Arlington to town as part of a Sun Belt Conference three-game weekend series. Friday’s series opener is slated for a 6:00 p.m. first pitch before day games on Saturday (2:00 p.m.) and Sunday (1:00 p.m.) afternoons.
Bobcats Fall to Longhorns Tuesday
AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas State baseball team lost 2-0 to Texas Tuesday night at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in a midweek non-conference showdown.
The Bobcats dropped to 22-16 on the year, while the Longhorns improved to 25-15. The victory also gave UT the season series two games to one over TXST.
Texas plated solo tallies in the third and sixth frames, and Texas State was unable to respond despite loading the bases with no outs in both the second and seventh innings.
Sophomore Jacob Almendarez finished 3-for-4 at the plate. He also had three hits against the Longhorns on March 21.
Junior Cam Baird (1-4) earned his third start of the season against UT. He had the most productive outing of those three games, leaving after conceding just one run on five hits in 4.2 innings. True freshman Broc Bosse was the first out of the bullpen, and he conceded one run on one hit in 0.2 frames.
Sophomore Wes Engle came in for the lefty-lefty matchup and struck out the lone batter he faced, and senior Joe Powell logged a scoreless 1.2 innings after Engle. Sophomore Anthony Pagano registered the final two outs and did not allow a baserunner.
Ryan Reynolds was the lone Longhorn with multiple hits, as he went 3-for-4. Kacy Clemens and Zane Gurwitz scored the two runs.
Blair Henley (3-3) picked up the win after throwing the first 5.0 innings. He conceded four hits, struck out three and walked two. Beau Ridgeway tossed the ninth and collected his eighth save of the year.
Texas outhit Texas State 7-6, and both teams committed one error. TXST left 11 runners on base, while the Longhorns left just six stranded.
Texas State will now hit the road for a three-game Sun Belt Conference series against Troy April 21-23 in Troy, Alabama. First pitch for the opener is scheduled for 6 pm.
Troy Falls to UAB; Travels to Jacksonville State Wednesday
TROY, Alabama – Troy fell, 6-1, in the second game of the season series with in-state rival UAB Tuesday night at Riddle-Pace Field. The Trojans will head to Oxford, Ala., Wednesday to face off with another rival, Jacksonville State.
The Trojans (18-17) scored their lone run on a Brandon Lockridge home run in the third inning – Lockridge finished 2-for-5 on the game. Trevor Davis, Chase Smartt, John Tatum and Mason Rogers all added hits to take Troy's total to six but none were able to score.
After retiring the first nine batters in order, Houston Mabray (2-2) allowed three runs on four hits in four inning of work to suffer the loss on the mound for the Trojans.
Troy redshirt freshman Zach Lightsey made his first appearance of the season after arm surgery last season and dealt a perfect inning on the mound with two strikeouts.
UAB (17-20) broke a six game skid behind a middle-inning offensive explosion – scoring all six runs in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings.
Pierce Ressmeyer led the Blazers at the plate with a 2-for-4 performance that included a double and an RBI.
Austin Thomas (1-1) earned his first win of the season after allowing only a run and scattering five hits in five innings on the mound.
QUOTABLE
"It's hard to win when you can't score," Troy head coach Mark Smartt said. "It makes it hard to come back in games when you're not scoring. Baseball is a game where you have to play with relaxed confidence but right now we look tight and restricted."
SOUND "SMARTT" WITH YOUR FRIENDS
• Brandon Lockridge hit his second home run of the season to give Troy a 1-0 lead in the third inning; it snapped a streak of 75 at-bats without a homer. His last home run came against Hofstra on March 11.
• Trevor Davis is now home to Troy's longest active hitting streak as he has hit safely in five straight contests after a single in the second inning.
• Brandon Lockridge finished the game 2-for-4 which is his 18 multi-hit game of the season and the 33rd of his career.
• Redshirt freshman Zach Lightsey made his 2017 debut with a clean inning that featured two strikeouts; he made three appearances and two starts as a true freshman in 2016, but missed the reminder of the season and received a medical hardship.
WHAT'S UP NEXT?
The Trojans will travel to Oxford, Ala., for another mid-week matchup, this time with long-time rival Jacksonville State. It will be the 140th time the two teams have faced off – dating all the way back to 1962 – in a series that Troy leads 82-57.
The game will be played at Choccolocco Park in Oxford due to on-going renovations to the Gamecocks' home stadium, Rudy Abbott Field.
Max Newton will get the call to the mound for his first start as a Trojan. Newton has thrown 5.2 innings this season, posting a 3.18 ERA while opponents only bat .167 against him.
Fans can listen live at TroyTrojans.com or on the Troy Sports Radio Network and can follow along with all the action on Twitter @TroyTrojansBSB.