An eight-run sixth inning and a dominating performance by Chandler Hawkins helped Arkansas State make quick work of Troy on Friday night.
Hawkins held Troy to three hits and and didn't allow a run as the Red Wolves beat the Trojans 12-0 in seven innings in an elimination game at the Sun Belt Tournament in Mobile, Ala.
No. 3 seed ASU (32-26) will play No. 2 Texas-Arlington at 12:30 p.m. today. If ASU wins, the teams will play at 7:30 p.m. for a chance to advance to Sunday's championship game.
The Red Wolves extended their season another day thanks in large part to an offense that took advantage of four Trojans errors. Austin Baker went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI, while Dustin Jones went 1 for 4 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored.
ASU took a 4-0 lead into the sixth inning when Troy (25-32) made three errors that sparked the decisive inning.
Lucas Feddersen reached on an error that scored Joe Schrimpf, then moved to second on a wild pitch and to third on an error. Feddersen scored on Zach Maggio's double. Baker drove in a run with a single and advanced to second on an error that scored Maggio to make it 0-0.
Tanner Ring drove in a run with a single and scored later on a groundout, and Schrimpf's sacrifice fly capped the scoring. Five of ASU's runs in the inning were unearned.
ASU will head into its third consecutive elimination game in as many days with a fresh bullpen thanks to Hawkins, who gave up a single in the first, the fourth and the seventh but never let a runner advance past second base.
Tournament glance
at Stanky Field, Mobile, Ala. Double elimination
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Texas State 4, Louisiana-Monroe 2
Louisiana-Monroe eliminated.
Arkansas State 12, Troy 0
Troy eliminated.
TODAY’S GAMES
Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Texas St., 9 a.m.
Arkansas St. vs. UT-Arlington, 12:30 p.m.
Sports on 05/24/2014