Troy baseball hangs on for wild victory over South Alabama in Sun Belt tournament

Troy kept its postseason hopes alive on Saturday, but the Trojans made things considerably more stressful than they needed to be. In a high-stakes Sun Belt tournament showdown at Dabos Park in Montgomery, Troy held off a frantic late charge from South Alabama to secure an 11-10 victory and eliminate the Jaguars from contention.

A Short Turnaround Ahead

With the win, Troy (31-27) punches its ticket to the tournament’s semifinal round. The Trojans face a steep climb, needing a victory against top-seeded Southern Miss at approximately 2:15 p.m. Saturday to stay alive for a Sunday championship berth. The teams last met Friday night, when Southern Miss defeated Troy 7-6 behind a dramatic walk-off grand slam.

Saturday’s elimination game mirrored that late-inning tension. After building a commanding 11-4 lead, Troy nearly collapsed in the final frame. The Jaguars mounted a six-run rally against the Trojans' bullpen before Drew Nelson finally struck out Brennon Wright to end the 3-hour, 52-minute marathon.

South Alabama’s Season Stalls

The loss effectively ends the Jaguars' season. South Alabama finishes 34-23 after a 1-2 showing in the tournament, with both losses coming at the hands of Troy. Given their position in the low 60s of the national RPI, the Jaguars face long odds for an at-large NCAA Regional bid.

South Alabama coach Mark Calvi pointed to a disparity in discipline as the primary culprit for the defeat. "The difference throughout the whole game was extra base hits and free passes," Calvi said. "I think we walked six and hit two, gave them three passes, and I think they only gave us one. That’s that seven baserunner difference, that got us."

Offensive Highlights

Troy’s offense provided the cushion early on, led by Jabe Boroff, who drove in three runs and crushed a two-run homer in the eighth inning. Sean Darnell paced the team with three hits, while Aaron Piasecki and Drew Nelson each contributed two RBIs to the effort.

On the mound, Troy starter Hayden Smith (4-0) earned the win, delivering five solid innings while allowing only two unearned runs. Despite the shaky finish from the relief corps, the victory marked Troy's fourth consecutive win over the Jaguars. The teams had met four times previously this season, with the Trojans outscoring South Alabama 40-16 in that span, including an 11-3 win on Thursday.