Late Inning Heroics Highlight SBC Play

Late inning drama was the norm Saturday in the Sun Belt, as six games were decided in the eighth inning or later.  Here are a few details.

SOUTH ALABAMA 8-24, APPALACHIAN STATE 6-5--Wells Davis' second home run of the game was a two run shot in the eighth innings that broke a 5-5 tie, giving the Jaguars a 7-5 lead.  South Alabama added another run and then held off the Mountaineers the rest of the way.  App State had used a five-run seventh inning to tie the game.  There was no drama in the second game as South Alabama won 24-5.

TROY 10, ULM 9--Jackson Cofer's two run walk-off homer in the ninth inning led Troy to the dramatic victory.  Chase Smartt led off the inning with a single.  Cofer actually missed two bunt attempts before blasting the shot well over the right field wall.  ULM scored nine runs in the first four innings, but was held scoreless the rest of the game.  The blast came off ULM all time saves leader Anthony Herrera.

LITTLE ROCK 8-6, GEORGIA STATE 3-4 (2nd game, 10 inn)--Cory Malcolm pitched eight strong innings in game one, then Nik Gifford blasted a three run homer in the bottom of the 10th for the game winner.  A walk and a hit batsman set the stage for the dramatics.  Gifford also scored the tying run in the bottom of the ninth.  Will Kilgore gave Georgia State the short lived lead in the 10th with an RBI single.

COASTAL CAROLINA 4, UTA 1--UTA broke up a pitchers' duel with a run in the seventh, but the Chanticleers scored two runs in each of the last two innings to get the win.  Andrew Beckwith did not allow an earned run in eight innings.  Austin Kitchen got the save.  Kevin Woodall, Jr. hit his 17th homer of the season.

ARKANSAS STATE 1, GEORGIA SOUTHERN 0--Bradey Welsh and Chase Cohen both threw six innings of shutout ball but Arkansas State finally broke through with two out in the ninth.  A hit batsman and a walk set the stage for Drew Tipton's bloop RBI single.  Tyler Zuber struck out the side in the ninth.

TEXAS STATE 8, LOUISIANA 4--Texas State scored five runs in the final two innings to get the win.  The Bobcats scored three in the eighth off Jevin Huval and Dylan Moore and then two more in the ninth off Evan Guillory.