03/12/06– FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WALTERS' 15 K's AND GEORGE'S 4-FOR-4 DAY LEAD JAGS TO 15-4 WIN OVER GEORGIA SOUTHERN

CONTACT: Kevin Sytko

Box Score

MOBILE, Ala. -Behind the strong pitching of P.J. Walters and four-hit performances from both Tyler Jones and Aaron George, the University of South Alabama baseball team improved to 14-6 on the season with a 15-4 victory over Georgia Southern (9-10) Sunday afternoon at Stanky Field.

Jones collected two triples a double and a single along with five RBI’s to lead the Jags at the top of the order. George’s four hits included his first homerun of the season, a long blast off of the left field score board. Walters is now 4-1 on the season. His career record is now 24-9 as a Jag.

“This weekend was very important to us after a very tough, emotional loss to Alabama,” said Jaguar coach Steve Kittrell. “I’m very proud of the way they played. We swung the bats well today. P.J. struck out a lot of guys and really did a good job tonight. He got his pitch count up where I think he can go nine innings now. We need him to get ready for conference and go the distance. ”

The Jags got on the board in the bottom of the second inning. George led off the inning with a blast to left field that smashed off of the scoreboard. For George it was his first home run of the season. David Doss then picked up and infield hit. Doss then stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Joe Collins. Lance Heisler then lifted a sacrifice fly to score Doss and give the Jags a 2-0 lead.

South Alabama added to its lead in the bottom fourth inning with five runs on five hits. George and Doss led off with a single and a walk. Collins then picked up his second sacrifice of the game, moving both runners up. Tyler Jones then ripped his fourth triple of the season and second of the game, scoring George and Doss that pushed the Jag lead to 4-0. The scoring didn’t stop there. Weaver ripped a double into the left center gap scoring Jones and David Freese launched his fourth home run of the season. The home run to left center field gave Freese RBI’s number 28 and 29.

Georgia Southern got on the board in the top of the fifth inning. Chris Hollis reached when David Freese misplayed a groundball. Matt Miller then walked and Greg Dowling singled, scoring Hollis. Griffin Benedict brought in Miller with an RBI grounded out of his own. Derrick Smith followed with a single putting two men on with two out. Chris Shehan then ripped a double in the gap scoring, both runners to cut the Jag lead to 7-4.

The Jags answered right back when they tacked on more runs in the bottom of the fifth. George and Doss once again set the table when they led of the inning with consecutive singles. Joel Collins then walked to load the bases. Lance Heisler continued his RBI streak with a single to right field. For Heisler, it was his third consecutive at-bat with an RBI. Jones then ripped a double off of the top of the wall scoring Doss and Collins and pushing the Jag advantage to six runs at 10-4.Weaver continued the onslaught with a triple off of the center field wall and came into score on a Freese sacrifice fly to center field for RBI number 30. At the end of the fifth USA led 13-4.

USA scored its 14th run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning when Jones picked up his fourth hit of the game. The single, which plated George, gave Jones his fifth RBI of the game.

Collins picked up his first RBI of the game in the bottom of the eighth when the Jags plated their 15th run. The groundout by Collins to the second baseman scored Chris Davis.

Eric Sulivant pitched a scoreless ninth inning in relief of Walters.

Walters picked up the victory, his fourth of the season. The junior right hander pitched eight solid innings, striking out a career-high 15 GSU batters. Eagle starter Aaron Eubanks picked up the loss and falls to 1-2 on the season.
South Alabama will return to action Friday night when they take on Conference USA power Tulane in New Orleans.