Troy Takes Second Straight from South Alabama, Earns Sun Belt Tourney Berth

Friday, May 16

Troy, Ala.

6:00pm

Troy University

24-29, 11-17

South Alabama

21-31, 10-18

South Alabama

Troy

Photo by: Jonah Enfinger

Troy Takes Second Straight from South Alabama, Earns Sun Belt Tourney Berth

5/16/2014 10:08:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Wes Johnson

Box Score

TROY, Ala. – For the second consecutive game, Troy got good pitching from its starter while Marc Skinner once again entered late to finish things off as the Trojans downed South Alabama 7-3 at Riddle-Pace Field Friday night. The win guarantees Troy a spot in the Sun Belt Conference Baseball Championships.

Tanner Hicks, who tossed a shutout against the Jaguars on March 14, again confused the South Alabama offense. Hicks tossed 7 2/3 innings allowing three runs and only ran into trouble once.

With Troy leading 2-0 in the fifth inning, Cameron Cummings, Davis Knapp and Drew LaBounty all doubled to start the frame, plating two runs and tying the game. Cole Gleason would later single to give South Alabama the lead.

It didn't take long for the Trojans to respond, however. With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Matthew Howard stood on third while Clay Holcomb was at first after a walk. Holcomb broke for second on the first pitch of Garrett Pitts' at-bat. As Jaguars shortstop Drew LaBounty fielded the throw, Holcomb stopped short of the base forcing a rundown. Howard then broke for the plate and the throw was late, tying the game, 3-3.

After Hicks allowed a pair of two-out base hits in the eighth, Marc Skinner was called upon to put out the fire. Skinner struck out Knapp on four pitches to the delight of the home crowd.

Troy exploded for four runs in the eighth inning to pull away. Nick Masonia walked and Trevin Hall singled with one out. Ali Knowles drove in the go-ahead run with a base hit to left-center. Matthew Howard then sent the Troy faithful into a frenzy when he doubled off the wall in left-center to score two more runs and give the Trojans a 6-3 advantage. Adam Tewksbury capped the scoring with an RBI single.

The Trojans got on the board first in the third. Knowles and Howard started the home half with walks. After a sacrifice bunt advanced both runners, Holcomb hit a bounding ball up the middle that was gloved by the second baseman but no play could be made. Knowles scored on the play. Jakob Nixon then slapped a ground ball to first base allowing Howard to cross. Nixon would finish 2-for-3 with two walks to extend his reached base streak to 14 games.

Skinner would allow a harmless single in the ninth but would close the door to preserve his fifth victory of the season and his second in as many nights. The freshman has now allowed just one earned run in his last 32 innings of work.

Troy's win, combined with Georgia State's loss, moves them into sixth place in the Sun Belt Conference standings. A win in Saturday's series finale would eliminate South Alabama from the tournament completely. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be televised on the Sun Belt Network (CSS/CST).