by SAN MARCOS, Texas – University of South Alabama right-hander Kevin Hill (Muscogee Creek) tossed 8 1/3 innings to lead the Jaguars to a 7-3 series-clinching win over Texas State Friday at Bobcat Baseball Stadium.
Hill (5-1) allowed two earned runs and scattered nine hits with a pair of walks and four strikeouts to earn his fifth win of the season.
“Kevin’s line was great, but he didn’t have his best stuff,” USA head coach Mark Calvi said. “Texas State did a fantastic job of not striking out, and really not getting to two strikes. They took advantage of some mistakes that Kevin made and got some hits on him. But Kevin was Kevin. He finds a way to come up with a big pitch when he really needs it. It’s been bend but not break. He hasn’t been dominant, yet, to this point. But the kid gives us a chance to win every single ball game, and that’s all you can ask of any pitcher you run out there.”
Bobcat right-hander Jeremy Hallonquist (2-1) allowed four runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and one walk in the loss.
South Alabama (17-6, 8-0 SBC) jumped out to a three-run lead in the top of the second on a two-out RBI single to right field by Adam Wolfe to score Ben Gann, who singled earlier in the inning. Travis Swaggerty followed with a two-run double to left-center field that scored Tanner Halstead and Adam Wolfe and extend the Jaguar lead to 3-0.
Texas State (15-8, 6-2 SBC) answered with a leadoff solo home run to left field to cut the USA lead to 3-1.
USA added to its lead in the top of the seventh. Gann drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Halstead and advanced to third on a one-out single to center field by Wolfe. A wild pitch from TXST left-hander Wes Engle later in the inning allowed Gann to score and extend the Jaguar lead to 4-1. Cole Billingsley then delivered a two-out RBI triple to right field to plate Swaggerty and push the USA advantage to four runs.
Martinez led off the top of the eighth with a single to left field and moved to second when Carter Perkins reached on an error by Bobcat third baseman Jaylen Hubbard. A sacrifice bunt from Brendan Donovan advanced both runners into scoring position before Martinez scored on a wild pitch to extend the USA lead to 6-1.
Ryan Raspino drew a leadoff walk in the top of the ninth, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by Bobcat first baseman Dylan Paul. A two-out RBI single to right field by LaBounty scored Raspino with the final Jaguar run of the game.
The Bobcats added the game’s final runs in the bottom of the ninth on a fielder’s choice RBI by Jonathan Ortega and a fielding error by Martinez at first base on a grounder off the bat of Newman.
Billingsley went 3-for-5 with a triple, one RBI and two stolen bases to lead the Jaguars at the plate. Martinez finished 2-for-5 with one run scored, Wolfe went 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored and Swaggerty added a double, two RBI and one run scored. Jaylen Hubbard went 3-for-4 with a triple and one run scored to lead the Bobcats offensively.
