Last night in the Sun Belt Conference

You know about Troy's win over Louisiana last night.  Here's what else happened in the league.

FIU 6, MTSU 3

Once upon a time, Florida International University was sitting well into the second division of the Sun Belt Conference at 5-8 after losing the first game of their three game Sun Belt Conference series to Louisiana.

The Panthers haven't lost since.

FIU made it ten in a row overall, nine straight in the league by beating Middle Tennessee on the road last night, 6-3.  FIU (30-16, 14-8)  chased starter Daniel Palo after three innings and coasted to the win.  Pablo Bermudez had three hits and scored twice for the Panthers, leading a 13-hit attack.  Bermudez hit his 3rd home run of the season for FIU.  Phil Haig (7-3) got the win for FIU.  Mank LaRue had two of MTSU's five hits.

The loss dropped Middle Tennessee (15-30, 7-15)  into a three-way tie for the eighth and final spot in the Sun Belt Tournament in Monroe.

UALR 4, ULM 3 (11 innings)

Greg Garcia's walk-off, two- run homer in the bottom of the 11th gave UALR a 4-3 win over Louisiana-Monroe last night at Gary Hogan Field in Little Rock.  ULM had taken a 3-2 lead in the top of the inning on a wild pitch by Andrew Hohn (2-1).  But UALR came back in the bottom of the inning when Casey McCollum singled and rode home on Garcia's one-out blast off ULM closer James Jones (5-3).

The win snapped a nine game conference losing streak for the Trojans (17-27. 7-15). 

ULM (22-22, 7-15) had twice battled from behind to tie but never led in the game until the top of the 11th.  Both starting pitchers were effective as ULM's Kendall Thamm allowed just six hits and two runs in seven innings, and UALR's Travis Henke scattered nine hits and struck out eight in 7.1 innings.  Both teams are tied with Middle Tennessee for eighth place in the league.

SOUTH ALABAMA 10, ARKANSAS STATE 5

In Mobile, South Alabama broke a five game league losing streak by beating Arkansas State 10-5.   The Jaguars (23-23, 10-12) scored six unearned runs thanks to four errors by the Red Wolves.  Jake Overstreet and Jeff DeBlieux each had two hits for South Alabama, who got a solid start from Garrett Harris.  Harris (6-3) allowed ten hits and five runs, getting the Jaguars into the ninth inning before giving way to Brad Hook.

Starter Andy Ferguson, the reigning Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week, was lifted after giving up six runs, three earned, in four innings.  He dropped to 5-2 with the loss.  The Red Wolves (22-26, 10-12) got a three run homer from Logan Uxa to tie the game in the top of the fourth inning before the Jags struck back.

FLORIDA ATLANTIC 4, WESTERN KENTUCKY 2

In Bowling Green, Florida Atlantic (27-17, 14-8) scored in three of the first four innings and defeated WKU 4-2.  Ryan Garton (4-3) was solid for the Owls, allowing just one earned run over six innings.  Eddie Cassidy drove in two runs to lead FAU as Garton bested Toppers' ace Tanner Perkins (6-3).  Hugh Adams pitched the ninth inning for his eighth save of the season.

WKU (27-19, 12-10) got three hits from Casey Dykes but could only score in the sixth inning.  They had only two hits over the final three innings.

STANDING AFTER FRIDAY'S GAMES

TROY              16-6

FIU                  14-8

FAU                 14-8

UL                    13-9

WKU               12-10

USA                10-12

ASU                10-12

UALR              7-15

MTSU             7-15

ULM                7-15