inning as USA plates three

From Special Reports

South Alabama plated three runs in the eighth to top Troy State 4-3 Tuesday night in an in-state baseball contest at Stanky Field.

The Jaguars, who won the season series from the Trojans 2-0, improved their record to 16-27 on the year while TSU fell to 20-27.

Brandon Davis gave Troy State a 3-1 cushion with a run-scoring single in the top of the eighth, which seemed to be enough insurance for the Trojan pitching staff.

The TSU hurlers allowed only one run on four hits through seven innings, but in the bottom of the eighth, Brantley Griffin led off with a single to left and stole second.

Following a Brett Parker walk, Cameron Likely put down a perfect bunt along the third base line. He was able to beat out third baseman Casey Smith’s throw which got by first baseman Derrell Kirkland. Griffin motored around fomr second to cut the margin to only 3-2.

Scott Calahan drove in Parker with a grounder to second to tie the game at 3-3, then Brian Groom knocked in the game-winner by grounding out to short to plate Likely.

Joe Long fanned the side in the ninth to record his team-leading fifth save. Tim Davis was the winning pitcher allowing one run and one hit in his only inning of work in the eighth.

Wright suffered the loss for TSU to fall to 2-7 and seven different Trojans had hits.

Troy State will now travel to Central Florida for a three-game set which represents one of their final Trans American Athletic Conference series.

UCF is ranked 25th in the country.