Troy University Athletics
Troy Rallies Past Southern Miss to Stay Alive in NCAA Regionals
6/4/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
TUSCALOOSA - Troy rallied from a 4-0 deficit -- all on unearned runs in the third -- to take a 6-4 lead, then hung on to defeat Southern Miss 6-5, Sunday afternoon in the loser's bracket of the NCAA Baseball Tuscaloosa Regional. The Trojans (47-15) now play top-seeded Alabama tonight at 6:30 in the championship round.
Southern Miss opened a 4-0 lead in the second by capitalizing on three Trojan errors. The Golden Eagles had runners on the corners after a walk and Edgar Ramirez error around a strikeout. Ellison looked to escape without any damage after striking out Kevin Coker and getting Jody Blount to ground to third. However, Jared Keel's throw to first was high and Drew Carson scored when Josh Dew couldn't make the catch.
USM added two runs on the next at-bat. A single by Brian Dozier drove home Luke Adkins from second, then, after a play at the plate, Troy catcher Beau Brooks sailed a throw to second into centerfield, allowing Blount to come home. Trey Sutton capped the rally with a triple to right center that plated Dozier.
Robinson led off the fifth with a homerun to right center to cut the gap to 4-1. Keel was robbed of a double by a leaping grab against the wall by Carson in left field, then a Brooks walk was wasted when the Golden Eagles turned their third double play of the contest.
The offense continued its rally in the sixth as it took a 5-4 lead with four runs. Ramirez led off the frame with a single off the third baseman's glove. Tom King was hit on the next pitch, then another infield single to third by Mike Felix loaded the bases. Dew then singled sharply to left to cut the lead to 4-2 and chase starter Ryan Belanger.
Matt Caire came in from the bullpen and immediately surrendered a long flyout to right, although King scored from third and Felix advanced from second. Keel tied the game on a soft flare into center field, then everyone was safe on a slow-rolling fielder's choice by pinch hitter Bryan Madril. The Trojans gained the lead when Craze singled sharply to left.
Ellison (3-1) worked into the seventh, allowing a leadoff single to Coker, before giving way to three Trojan relievers. The sophomore right-hander struck out five, while walking just one. None of his four runs allowed were earned. Tony Falls and Felix kept the Golden Eagles in check for the seventh and eighth, respectively, while Dew earned his eighth save despite giving up a run in the ninth.
Falls struck out Blount on a fouled bunt attempt, but then walked Dozier. He worked out of the jam by striking out Trey Sutton and getting Marc Maddox, USM's career hits and home runs leader, to ground into a fielder's choice.
A leadoff walk by Blake Green in the eighth led to a Troy insurance run. Two outs later, Green came home from second when Josh Blackwell singled to centerfield.
Felix, last night's hard-luck loser, came in for the start of the eight, but walked Toddric Johnson. However, he retired the next three batters on a pop-up to second, a strikeout and a groundout to third to end the threat.
Felix started the ninth with a strikeout, but walked the next batter, bringing Dew to the mound. After a flyout, successive Golden Eagles singled to cut the deficit to 6-5 and put runners at first and second. However, Dew coaxed Toddric Johnson into a groundout to second to send USM home and setup a rematch with Alabama.
