BELL PITCHES JAGS TO SERIES-OPENING WIN OVER LITTLE ROCK
MOBILE, Ala. – Jaguar right-hander Randy Bell turned in a quality start to lead the University of South Alabama baseball team to an 8-3 series-opening win over Little Rock Friday at Stanky Field.
Bell (5-3) allowed three runs on nine hits with six strikeouts and a pair of walks in 6 1/3 innings to earn the win. Jaguar right-hander Matt Peacock tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed just one hit while striking out three to record his seventh save of the season. Trojan right-hander Ryan LeMoine (2-5) allowed five runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and two walks in four innings pitched in the loss.
"Their (Little Rock) guy (Ryan) LeMoine was really good," USA head coach Mark Calvi said. "I want to give him credit. We ran into a guy who was a solid pitcher and a very good Little Rock team. Good pitchers can make you look a little bit off, and that's what LeMoine did. I give him credit; I thought he was very solid. Wells (Davis) got us on the board with the home run, and we had some good at-bats to get to a very good Little Rock bullpen. They have really put up numbers, not only in this league but overall. We had good at-bats against their relievers and pushed across a couple of runs for some breathing room. Randy (Bell) wasn't really sharp; he wasn't as sharp as he has been but the kid is a winner. And you go out there and win when you don't have your best stuff. You rely on your teammates and hang tough, and that's what Randy did tonight. I'm glad they picked up the win for him."
Little Rock (16-29, 7-15 SBC) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a one-out RBI triple off the right-center field wall by Riley Pittman and an RBI single to right field by Dalton Thomas.
The Trojans pushed their lead to 3-0 in the top of the third on a two-out RBI single to right field by Cameron Knight.
South Alabama (29-17, 16-6 SBC) answered with its first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth on a one-out solo home run to right-center field by Wells Davis to cut the Trojan lead to 3-1.
The Jaguars pushed across four runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a two-run lead. Jared Barnes led off the inning with a double to left field, and advanced to third after an error by Trojan left fielder Pittman on the play. Will Luft followed with an RBI single through the left side of the infield to score Barnes and cut the Little Rock lead to 3-2. A single to shallow right-center field by Dylan Hardy put runners at the corners with no outs. Colton Thomas followed with an RBI single through the right side of the infield to score Luft and tie the game at 3-3. Brendan Donovan drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. Hardy then scored on a wild pitch for a 4-3 Jaguar advantage before Little Rock intentionally walked Davis to load the bases with one out. Paul Russo then delivered an RBI groundout to first that scored Thomas for a 5-3 Jaguar lead.
USA added the game's final runs in the bottom of the seventh on a pinch-hit RBI single to left field by Matt Bolger, an RBI single to left field by Drew LaBounty and an RBI sacrifice bunt by Luft for an 8-3 advantage.
Hardy went 2-for-5 with one run scored, Luft finished 1-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored and Davis added a home run, one RBI and one run scored to lead the Jaguars at the plate. Thomas went 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI to lead the Trojans offensively.
The series will continue with game two Saturday 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).
Cajuns Baseball Blanks Georgia Southern To Open Series
LAFAYETTE, La. – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team posted its ninth shutout of the year as the Cajuns blanked Georgia Southern 3-0 on Friday night at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park to open an eight-game homestand. The nine saves is tied for the most in the nation with No. 2 Louisville.
"I thought if we could get Gunner (Leger) back on Friday night, we would be able to play the way that we wanted to play. We were fortunate enough to do that tonight," head coach Tony Robichaux said.
Junior Gunner Leger (9-2) was dominant on the mound for the Ragin' Cajuns (28-17-1, 14-7-1 Sun Belt) tossing seven scoreless innings while allowing just two hits with no walks and six strikeouts in the victory. Leger had just one runner reach scoring position in the outing and lowered his ERA to 1.47 on the year. The left-hander has combined to post six of Louisiana's nine shutouts on the season.
Wyatt Marks notched his sixth save of the year with two perfect frames in relief to close out the ballgame. Marks struck out three in the outing to improve his team lead in strikeouts to 83 on the year.
Senior Evan Challenger (2-5) was handed the loss for the Eagles (30-16, 13-9 Sun Belt) allowing three runs on five hits in eight innings of work. Challenger walked three and struck out eight in the start.
Brenn Conrad led Louisiana offensively going 2-for-4 with a double, triple and one RBI as four of the Cajuns five hits on the night went for extra bases.
The Ragin' Cajuns on the board in the bottom of the fourth on a two-out, two-run homer down the line in right field by Kennon Fontenot to give the Cajuns a 2-0 edge. The home run was the fifth of the season for Fontenot.
In the top of the fifth, Georgia Southern put two runners on with two outs after a Logan Baldwin bunt single, but Leger got C.J. Brazil to foul out to first baseman Alex Pinero to keep the Eagles scoreless.
The Cajuns tacked on the final run of the night in the bottom half of the fifth when Conrad drove a two-out double into the gap in right centerfield to plate Brad Antchak and make the score 3-0.
Louisiana will look to claim the series tomorrow night at 6 p.m. at Russo Park as left-hander Colten Schmidt (1-0, 1.00 ERA) will make his first career start in his home debut. Georgia Southern will counter with sophomore Chase Cohen (3-3, 4.11 ERA) on the mound.
Five-Run Fiesta in the Fifth Lifts Troy to Victory
TROY, Alabama – Troy scored five runs in the fifth inning to spark a 9-1 victory over Appalachian State in the Sun Belt series opener on Cinco de Mayo night at Riddle-Pace Field.
Andrew Crane (5-1) delivered yet another dominating performance on the mound for Troy (25-20, 11-11) – allowing only three hits in six shutout innings of work with a career-high nine strikeouts. Crane extended his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 30.2 innings, which is the most in the school's recorded history.
he Trojan pitching staff, as a whole, fanned 15 batters in the game – striking out at least 13 in the last three Friday games.
Justin Friend went 3-for-4 at the plate with a homer, a double, two RBIs and three runs scored to lead Troy offensively – he is 9 for his last 15 at bats. Matt Sanders, Mason Rogers and Drew Frederic also turned in multi-hit games to aid the Trojans' 13 hit effort.
Avery Jackson led Appalachian State (18-28, 7-15) at the plate, going 1-for-3 with an RBI triple in the seventh inning.
Travis Holden (2-7) was saddled with the loss for the Mountaineers after allowing five runs on six hits and three walks in 4.1 innings on the mound.
QUOTABLE
"Three straight Fridays and Crane keeps doing it," Troy head coach Mark Smartt said. "He just doesn't like to lose. It was a good solid pitching effort and we were able to score runs tonight. Friend is in the four hole driving in runs and ripping extra-base hits and we're finally getting contribution from our whole lineup."
"I set my rhythm and kept working," winning pitcher Andrew Crane said about the victory. "Eventually by the third inning I found my groove out there."
"Our pitching staff has been great and finally tonight we helped them at the plate," senior first baseman Justin Friend said. "I've started seeing the ball better and have been swinging at more strikes; waiting on a good pitch and making a good swing on it."
SOUND "SMARTT" WITH YOUR FRIENDS
• Andrew Crane extended his consecutive innings streak to 30.2 innings with six scoreless innings to open Friday's game … it is the longest streak in Troy's recorded history. Crane also struck out a career-high nine batters. In five starts this season, Crane has a 0.58 ERA with two earned runs in 31 innings – he has struck out 32 batters (9.3 K/9), allowed just 17 hits (4.9 H/9) and walked six (1.7 BB/9).
• Justin Friend extended his hitting streak to nine games with his solo home run to lead off the bottom of the second inning. It was his fifth homer of the season and first since April 14 at Georgia State, a span of 34 at-bats. Friend has now reached base safely in 24 of the last 26 games.
• Justin Friend went 3-for-4 in the game with a double, a home run and two RBIs for his eighth multi-hit game and 10th multi-RBI game of the season. He has multiple hits in three of the last four games – 9-for-15.
• Drew Frederic recorded a pair of hits for his sixth multi-hit game of the season and first since a 3-for-4 performance in Troy's victory over Alabama on April 4.
• Brandon Lockridge ripped a triple into right-center field to score a run in the fifth inning; it was his second triple of the season and he has now reached base safely in 43-of-45 games this season.
• Brody Binder's pinch hit RBI double in the bottom of the fifth inning was his first hit since March 4 against South Alabama in Pensacola; five of his six hits this season have gone for extra bases.
• Troy's pitching staff finished the night with 15 strikeouts – Andrew Crane (9), Will Carnley (3), Jimmy Robbins (2), Lance Johnson (1). It marked the third straight Friday game that Troy has recorded at least 13 strikeouts.
WHAT'S UP NEXT?
Troy will go for the series sweep behind the arm of Daren Osby (4-3, 3.74) Saturday at Riddle-Pace Field. First pitch for game two is set for 3 p.m.
Vassar's Relief Outing Pushes Mavs To Opener
JONESBORO, Ark. -- Omar Salinas collected a career-high four hits and Brad Vassar worked a season-long 3.1 innings in relief to lead No. 23 UTA to an 11-7 win at Arkansas State to open the three-game series on Friday night at Tomlinson Field.
UTA (27-18, 17-5 Sun Belt) remained in first place in the conference standings with the win, UTA's school-record 14th road win of the season. The Mavs have posted a 9-1 record in road games in conference play, have won eight straight league games and own a 25-11 record since March.
In an offensive game for a Friday night, the teams traded big innings in the first, with UTA plating three runs and Arkansas State (22-22, 10-12 Sun Belt) getting a five-run frame for an early lead. UTA answered back to take the lead for good with a four-run second inning, adding three in the fifth and one in the eighth inning. ASU got a two-run frame in the fifth.
With UTA star Friday night starter Kadon Simmons limited to a pair of outs in the first inning, the Mavs got a strong relief outing from junior southpaw Brad Vassar (3-1), who worked 3.1 innings to pick up the pitching staff.
ON THE MOUND
Simmons worked 0.2 innings – the shortest start of his decorated two-year career. Simmons allowed five hits and five runs, walking two and striking out one on 42 pitches. With the bases juiced and two outs, UTA turned to Vassar in relief of Simmons, with Vassar stranding the bases loaded.
Vassar worked a season-long 3.1 innings, allowing just two hits and one run, walking three and striking out one on 74 pitches. After the leadoff runner reached in the fifth, UTA turned to Dylan Schneider in relief. Schneider worked two innings, allowing two hits and a run, not issuing a walk and striking out one.
Austin Gardner took over for the Mavs to open the seventh inning. Gardner worked 2.1 innings, loading the bases in the bottom of the ninth with an out. Daniel James took over in relief in the ninth-inning jam. He earned his 12th save of the year – second-most in UTA single-season history – and the 15th of his career, getting a pair of strikeouts to end the threat, using just nine pitches.
Arkansas State starter Bryan Ayers (2-5) worked 1.1 innings, allowing four hits and six runs, walking three without a strikeout. Bo Ritter replaced Ayers in the second inning and worked 5.2 innings to save the bullpen for the Wolves, allowing eight hits and four runs, not issuing a walk and striking out four. Brandon Stuckenschneider also worked in relief.
LEADING THE MAVS
Salinas led the Mavs with a career-high four-hit game, ripping a pair of doubles and driving in three. UTA also got two-hit games from Zac Cook, Quintin Rohrbaugh, Aaron Funk and Easton Johnson. Brady Cox scored three runs and had a hit, with Noah Vaughan driving in one run and Will Olson driving in two with key RBI groundouts.
HOW THEY SCORED
UTA took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, getting a leadoff double from Cook and a slow-rolling infield single from Cox. Salinas scored Cook with an RBI double, painted down the rightfield line. Olson forced home Cox with an RBI groundout and after a walk to Rohrbaugh, Vaughan hung a sac fly to score Salinas for an early lead.
The Red Wolves answered in the bottom of the first inning, getting a leadoff single from Grant Hawkins on a 0-2 offering and a walk from Joe Schrimpf to open the game. After a wild pitch moved the runners into scoring position, Simmons responded with a strikeout. Justin Felix then got the Wolves on the board with an RBI groundout and Jeremy Brown smacked an RBI single with two outs through the right side. Alex Howard tied the game with an RBI double into the left-centerfield gap, scoring Brown. ASU took the lead with a single from Drew Tipton, a sinking liner that bounced out of the sliding glove of Rohrbaugh in leftfield with two outs. Derek Birginske then singled up the middle to score Jake Bakamus, who was hit with a two-strike pitch.
UTA regained the lead in the top of the second plating four runs on three hits. Johnson started the rally with a one-out single to left and Cook and Cox loaded the bases and chased Ayers with one-out walks. Salinas greeted the new reliever with a two-run double, with Olson giving UTA a lead and Rohrbaugh scoring Salinas with a two-out knock to left.
The Mavs plated three runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 10-5 lead. Rohrbaugh was hit by a pitch to leadoff and Williams singled up the middle with one out. Funk then singled home Rohrbaugh with a knock to right-centerfield and Johnson scored Williams with a single into rightfield. Cook second hit of the game scored Funk for a five-run lead.
A-State got two runs back in the bottom of the fifth inning, getting three straight singles to leadoff, with Birginske singling home Bakamus. Tipton scored on an RBI fielder's choice from Joe Schrimpf.
The Mavs tacked on an insurance run in the top of the eighth inning, loading the bases with two outs for Williams, who drew a walk to force in Cox for an 11-7 UTA lead.
NEXT
The series will resume on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT at Tomlinson Field. UTA will start junior RHP Trae Patterson (5-3, 2.85 ERA) vs. ASU sophomore RHP Bradley Welsh (3-1, 6.27 ERA).
Coastal Carolina Wins 7-5 in 12 at ULM
MONROE, La. - Kieton Rivers had four hits and Seth Lancaster added three to lead Coastal Carolina to a 7-5, 12-inning win at ULM Friday night at Warhawk Field in the opening game of the weekend series.
On the mound for Coastal (28-16-1, 14-7-1 Sun Belt), Bobby Holmes and Will Latcham combined to pitch 5.1 scoreless innings in relief, allowing one hit and one walk with seven strikeouts. Latcham (3-0) earned the win. In the 11th, he worked out of a jam after a CCU error then struck out the side in the 12th to seal the victory.
In the 12th for the Chanticleers, Wood Myers drew a leadoff walk to start the rally and he moved to third on a throwing error when the ULM catcher tried to pick him off first. Rivers walked to put runners on first and third. Then, with a drawn-in infield, Peyton Isaacson singled through the right side of the infield to score Myers. Lancaster followed with an RBI single to right field to score Rivers for the 7-5 lead.
Coastal grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the second inning. Dalton Ewing, who reached on a fielder's choice, easily scored from first base as Seth Lancaster drove a 3-2, two-out pitch to center field.
The Warhawks (12-35, 6-16) answered with two runs in the bottom of the second. Spencer Hemphill had a leadoff single and Chad Bell followed with a single. Two batters later Cade Harper lined a two-run double off the right field wall.
Coastal Carolina responded with three runs, all with two outs, in the third to regain the lead, 4-2. Kevin Woodall Jr., started the rally with a sharp single past the ULM shortstop. Myers then doubled to left-center field, allowing Woodall to score from first. Rivers continued to keep a hot bat as he drove a pitch opposite field and over the right-center field wall to give CCU a two-run cushion. For Rivers, the blast was his first of the season and the second for his career.
The back and forth game continued in the bottom of the third as ULM scored once to make the score 4-3. Cade Stone drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a wild pitch, took third on fly out and scored on an RBI single from Turner Francis. For the third inning in a row, Coastal made a great defensive play, this time to save run as Lancaster made a diving catch down the third-base line to throw out Hemphill at first. (Woodall made an impressive over the shoulder catch in foul territory to end the first and Rivers caught a ball in foul territory over the tarp in the second.)
The Chants got that run back in the fourth. Matt Beaird had a one-out single and Billy Cooke was hit by pitch for the second time in as many at bats. Then, with two outs, Woodall lined a single to right field. Despite a strong throw, Beaird, running from second slid and just beat the tag at the plate to give the Chants a two-run advantage again (5-3).
ULM knotted the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Bell walked and Tyler Cox followed with a two-run home run.
Both teams had several opportunities from the seventh through 11th innings, but came up empty each time.
Game two of the series is set for 2 pm (CT) on Saturday.
SPERRY HOMERS TWICE IN 11-7 WIN AT TEXAS STATE
SAN MARCOS, TEXAS -- Cam Sperry hit two home runs, Nick Gatewood homered, and Romero Greer drove in the go-ahead run with a seventh-inning triple and Georgia State went on to win 11-7 at Texas State Friday at Bobcat Ballpark. The Panthers have won four of their last five games.
Sperry's and Gatewood's homers helped Georgia State (18-27, 7-15 Sun Belt) to a 7-2 lead through five innings. After Texas State (23-24, 9-13) tied the game with five runs in the sixth, the Panthers responded right away with two runs in the seventh to take the lead for good.
With two outs, Jarrett Hood singled and came home on Greer's triple past the center fielder. Luke Leonard followed with an RBI-single to put GSU ahead 9-7. The Panthers added insurance runs in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Sperry, his third RBI of the night, and in the ninth on a pinch-hit, RBI-single by Jaylen Woullard.
Rhett Harper recorded the final four outs for his second straight save and fifth of the season.
Gatewood, the sophomore catcher, put Georgia State on top quickly with a two-run homer in the first inning, his second long ball this week and fourth of the season. He is 7-for-12 with two homers and three RBI in the last three games.
Two batters later, Sperry followed with a solo homer, and the Panthers led 3-0 before Texas State came to the plate.
Sperry homered again in his next at-bat with another solo blast for a 4-0 advantage in the third. Georgia State added two more in the fourth on Ryan Blanton's sacrifice fly and Justin Jones' RBI-double. Greer's sacrifice fly in the fifth gave the Panthers a 7-2 lead.
With Texas State mounting a five-run rally in the sixth, Logan Barnette (4-0) came on and recorded three outs to keep the game tied. He pitched another 1.2 innings to earn his fourth victory, but he loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth on three hit batters. With GSU holding a three-run lead, Harper came on and got Jaylen Hubbard to fly out on a ball on which Leonard made a great diving catch in left field.
"So many people had great games tonight that it truly was a team win. Our will to win was as high as I've seen it, and I'm really proud of the team for that," head coach Greg Frady said. "We built a lead, centered around Cam Sperry and Nick Gatewood with the home runs and a lot of people doing some great things. Texas State had their big inning, but I'm proud of the team for not giving up the lead and for responding right away with a couple of runs. We competed in a way that our will to win was as high as I've seen it all season, and so many people made a contribution to help us win."
The series continues with a 5 p.m. ET game Saturday.