Red Wolves rally for series win

A- State takes 2 out of 3 from Troy

astateredwolves.com JONESBORO — An unlikely extra-inning rally gave Arkansas State a series victory over Troy in Sun Belt Conference baseball Saturday evening.

The Red Wolves scored two runs in the 10th inning without putting the ball in play to earn a 4-3 victory over the Trojans in the series finale at Tomlinson Stadium.

ASU (9-27, 4-13 Sun Belt) has won four of its last five Sun Belt games, each by one run, to climb out of last place in the league standings. The Red Wolves rode a strong start by Justin Medlin to a 4-3 victory in Friday’s series opener, then saw the Trojans prevail 6-1 in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader.

Troy (24-14, 10-8 Sun Belt) was three outs from winning the series in Saturday’s second game when ASU misplayed a

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two-out infield popup in the top of the 10th, giving the Trojans the go-ahead run and a 3-2 lead.

Wil French and Jared Toler worked back-to-back walks to lead off the bottom of the 10th, spelling the end for reliever Grayson Stewart (4-2). Garrett Olson was hit by a pitch while trying to bunt, loading the bases with no outs.

French crossed home plate as the tying run when Ben Klutts worked a five-pitch walk.

Troy pitcher Bay Witcher was then removed for Ryan Pettys, who walked Brandon Hager on five pitches as Toler scored the winning run.

Both teams received strong starting pitching in the series’ third game. ASU’s Carter Holt matched his career high with seven innings pitched, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits while striking out seven and walking none.

Tyler Jeans (2-4) went the rest of the way, working three innings and allowing just one run on two hits while striking out four.

Troy’s Rigsby Mosley pitched 6 1/3 innings, striking out eight and walking none while allowing two runs on six hits. Mosley kept the Red Wolves off the scoreboard until Brandon Hager launched a two-run, two-out home run in the sixth to tie the game 2-2.

Toler went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Brandon Hager, who caught 18 of 19 innings on Saturday, went 1-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs.

The Trojans won Saturday’s first game as Brady Fuller (4-1) and Keaton Fuller combined on a two-hitter. Jaylon Deshazier went 1-for-4 for ASU, driving in the Red Wolves’ lone run on an RBI triple, while French reached base twice.

Medlin (1-4) pitched a career-high seven innings as the Red Wolves took Friday’s series opener. He struck out four and scattered six hits before handing off to Brandon Anderson and Kevin Wiseman, who pitched one scoreless inning each to close our the game.

ASU registered six hits, four coming from Klutts and Deshazier. Klutts reached base three times and went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs, including the eventual game-winning run.

Deshazier recorded a pair

A-State begins a sevengame road swing with next weekend’s series at Texas-Arlington (11-29, 4-14 Sun Belt). Friday’s series opener

Photo courtesy of Arkansas State