Troy Falls to No. 26 South Alabama in Sun Belt Tournament

Friday, May 26

Statesboro, Ga.

8 AM

Troy University

31-25

South Alabama

37-19

Troy

South Alabama

Photo by: Sun Belt Conference

Troy Falls to No. 26 South Alabama in Sun Belt Tournament

5/26/2017 11:34:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score

By: Jace Sanders

Box Score

STATESBORO, Georgia – Dylan Hardy and Brendan Donovan both hit two home runs and drove in eight combined runs to lift No. 26 South Alabama past Troy, 9-1, in the opening round of the Sun Belt Tournament Friday morning at J.I. Clements Stadium.

The Trojans (31-25) were held scoreless until the eighth inning when Chase Smartt laced an RBI single into left field. Smartt finished the game 2-for-4 to lead the Trojans offensively.

The Jags (37-19) struck early on a two-run blast from Brendan Donovan in the first inning to end Andrew Crane's (6-2) 40-inning scoreless streak. Crane suffered the loss after allowing four runs on six hits in 3.1 innings of work.

Dylan Hardy jacked a three-run homer in the fourth and a solo shot in the sixth on his way to a 3-for-4 day that included four RBIs and three runs scored to lead South offensively.

Randy Bell (6-3) was outstanding on the mound for South Alabama – allowing only a run on seven hits and fanning eight in 7.2 innings on the mound.

Coach Smartt took time to address the media after today's loss ?? pic.twitter.com/XLlhiezkfI
— Troy Baseball (@TroyTrojansBSB) May 26, 2017

SOUND "SMARTT" WITH YOUR FRIENDS
• Andrew Crane's consecutive scoreless inning streak came to an end at 40 IP after a two-run blast from Brendan Donovan in the first inning – the streak was both a Troy and Sun Belt conference record.

• Troy has lost 10 of its last 11 Sun Belt Tournament games and has not won since May 21, 2014 – defeated Arkansas State 4-3.

• With Friday's loss, the Trojans have lost three consecutive games to South Alabama for the first time since 2007.