Troy Back in 1st Place with 11-6 Win

Friday, May 20

Mobile, AL

6:00 pm

Troy University

University of South Alabama

Photo by: Edward Fieder

5/20/2011 9:12:14 PM | Baseball

Trojans Lead by Half a Game with One To Go

By: Taylor Bryan

BOX SCORE

MOBILE – Troy's offense backed freshman hurler Jimmy Hodgskin's strong outing as the Trojans picked up an 11-6 win over South Alabama and moved within one game of a regular season Sun Belt title.

The Troy victory combined with a 2-0 loss by FIU moved the Trojans back in front in the Sun Belt standings by half a game.

The Troy offense hit USA starter Dustin Crenshaw (8.0, 15 H, 11 R; now 7-2) hard – the tune of his worst outing of the season, belting 15 hits and scoring 11 runs to back one of the best performances of the season from freshman lefty Jimmy Hodgskin.

Hodgskin (3-6) stymied South Alabama into the seventh inning while scattering nine hits and allowed three runs. The freshman southpaw struck out five and allowed just two walks.

Troy (39-16, 20-9) got on the board quickly, utilizing three first inning hits along with a walk to score a pair of runs on a two RBI single by Todd McRae back up the middle that scored Tyson Workman and Adam Bryant for the 2-0 lead.

After the starter Hodgskin allowed a run in the fourth, Troy started the fifth with three straight hits the last a double by Boone Shear that plated McRae. The next batter, Ali Knowles, hit a sac fly to center that scored Drew Prichard to push the Troy lead to 4-1.

Workman was next, and he singled, and the throw by USA shortstop Logan Kirkland was wild sending Shear to third and Workman to second. Tyler Hannah grounded out to short, but it scored Shear to give the junior from Gardendale his 41st RBI and a 5-1 lead for the Trojans.

The Trojans tacked on another run in the fifth inning with a pair of doubles. Logan Pierce doubled with one down, then with two out, Prichard doubled deep to right-centerfield and chased him home for a 6-1 Troy advantage.

The Jaguars picked up a run in the fifth on a deep drive by Jeff Deblieux that was mishandled by centerfielder Ali Knowles and allowed Deblieux to take third and then score on the error. The run closed the gap to 6-3.

After hearing the news of FIU's loss to Florida Atlantic, Troy exploded for five runs in the top of the eight capped by a three-run homer from Adam Bryant. Prichard had a double, then Shear singled him home to pick up an RBI.

Workman singled, then Hannah came through with an RBI base hit up the middle setting up Bryant's at-bat. When the frame was over Troy had rapped five hits and scored five runs to take an 11-3 lead.

Trojans reliever Nate Hill got in some trouble in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases with no outs on two seeing-eye singles and a walk. Hill got back-to-back strikeouts to make it two away, but Deblieux reached on another error by Knowles and two runs scored to close the Troy advantage to 11-5. Hill regrouped and got Overstreet to ground out and end the inning.

South Alabama kept fighting and picked up one run in the ninth for the final margin.

Workman, Prichard and Shear each had three hits for Troy. Bryant led the way with three RBI. Three other Trojans chipped in with two runs batted in.

The Trojans' starter for Saturday is still to be determined. South Alabama will throw senior RHP Carlton Paris (3-4, 4.08 ERA).