South Alabama pitcher Kevin Hill struck out 10 over seven innings, and the Jaguars collected 18 hits in a 14-4 win over fifth-seeded Georgia State in the Sun Belt Conference baseball tournament on Thursday.
The victory moved South Alabama forward in the winners’ bracket of the double-elimination event.
Hill Reaches Milestones
Hill allowed one run on eight hits and three walks to earn his 10th win of the season. He is the first South Alabama pitcher to win 10 games in a season since D.D. Hanks in 2010.
The 10 strikeouts pushed Hill past 100 for the season, making him the first Jaguar to reach that mark since P.J. Walters struck out 166 in 2006.
Early Lead Changes Hands
South Alabama threatened in the top of the first inning but did not score. Georgia State took a 1-0 lead in the bottom half when Trae Sweeting led off with a double down the left-field line, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a two-out single up the middle after Hill retired Caden Bailey on a fly ball to left.
The Jaguars answered with three runs in the second and never trailed again. Cole Gleason drew a leadoff walk and Danny Martinez singled to right. Jared Barnes reached when his sacrifice bunt attempt resulted in a force out at third base. Ryan Raspino doubled into the right-center gap to score Martinez and tie the game, and Cole Billingsley singled to left-center to drive in Barnes and Raspino for a 3-1 lead.
Offensive Leaders
Eight South Alabama players had at least one hit.
- Billingsley went 4-for-6, a career high in hits, with a double, three runs scored, two RBIs and a stolen base.
- Raspino went 3-for-4, tying his career high in hits, with two doubles, a home run, three RBIs and four runs scored.
- Collura also matched his career high with three hits, including a double, and drove in three runs while scoring once.
Up Next
South Alabama is off Friday and returns to action at 9 a.m. Saturday against the winner of Friday’s elimination game between Arkansas State and Georgia State.
