Jacksonville State Rallies Late to Defeat Troy

Wednesday, May 3

Troy, Ala.

6 PM

Troy University

24-20

Jacksonville State

23-20

Jacksonville State

Troy

Photo by: Meredith Gramley

Jacksonville State Rallies Late to Defeat Troy

5/3/2017 8:50:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Jace Sanders

Box Score | Photo Gallery | Game Highlights

TROY, Alabama – Jacksonville State scored three runs in the top of the ninth to defeat Troy, 4-3, at Riddle-Pace Field Wednesday night.

The Gamecocks (23-20) entered the ninth trailing by two before piecing together timely hitting and an error to put up three runs.

Troy (24-20) took a 3-1 lead in the third inning off an RBI single from Brandon Lockridge and a two-RBI single from Justin Friend. Friend also doubled in the second on his way to a 3-for-4 night to lead the Trojans at the plate. Matt Sanders turned in Troy's other multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Houston Mabray started the game on the mound for Troy and allowed only a run on six hits in six innings of work – with the only run coming on a second-inning homer.

Marc Skinner (3-4) entered in the ninth with an opportunity to break Troy's all-time saves record before allowing three runs – two earned – on three hits in the inning to suffer the loss on the hill.

Clayton Daniel led Jacksonville State going 3-for-5 at the plate, driving in a run and scoring another.

Justin Hoyt (4-1) won the game in relief – throwing one inning without allowing a hit or a run. Trent Simpson earned his second save of the season following a shutdown ninth that included two strikeouts.

QUOTABLE
"It's disappointing when you have the lead in the ninth and you can't pull the win out," Troy head coach Mark Smartt said. "Mabray threw great on the mound and did his job to give us a chance. We competed but didn't compete to win the game."

SOUND "SMARTT" WITH YOUR FRIENDS
• Justin Friend extended his hitting streak to a team-best eight games as he went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs … it was his seventh multi-hit game of the season and his ninth multi-RBI game of the season.

• Matt Sanders picked up his 17th multi-hit game of the season as he went 2-for-4 at the plate; it was his team-leading 47th of his career.

• Corey Childress picked up his third hold of the season with a perfect eighth inning while Will Carnley recorded his first career hold with a scoreless seventh inning.

WHAT'S UP NEXT
The Trojans will be back in action Friday night at Riddle-Pace Field to kick off a three-game Sun Belt set with Appalachian State. First pitch for the series opener is set for 6 p.m.