MOBILE, Ala. ? The University of South Alabama baseball team out-slugged Siena 13-7 at Stanky Field Tuesday night. The Jaguars pounded out 15 hits including six extra-base hits to improve to 4-3 on the season. Siena fell to 0-4 on the year.
Former Baker High School pitcher Brandon Sage threw five effective innings, picking up his first win of the year, while improving to 1-2. Sage allowed three runs, while striking out two. Trevor Reid took the loss for the Saints falling to 0-1. Reid pitched four innings giving up seven runs, six earned, walking two and striking out four.
"Brandon was good. He had one inning where he was having communication problems and Joel (Collins) was getting mixed up, but they got it together and Brandon held on," said head coach Steve Kittrell. "I was glad to see him get his first win at South Alabama."
Siena got on the board first, putting up three runs in the top of the third. Nick Messinger led off the inning with a triple down the left field line. Jason DeFilippo drove a ball up the middle scoring DeFilippo. After a fielder’s choice advancing DeFilippo and a Jake Willis walk, Rick Seltzer drove in DeFilippo on a single to center field. Chris Klepps drove in the third run of the inning on a fielder’s choice.
The Jags came back putting up three runs of their own in the bottom of the third. After Ray Kruml walked and stole second, David Doss tripled to right center scoring Kruml. Jeff Cunningham reached first on a throwing error by Siena catcher Gary DerHagopian. On the same play, Seltzer tried to throw Cunningham out at second and instead threw high. The second error on the play allowed Doss to score. Ryne Jernigan drove in the third run of the inning grounding out to second base and scoring Cunningham.
"I was very happy with way the guys bounced back after the three-run inning, this Siena club scored a lot of runs on New Orleans," said head coach Steve Kittrell. "They are a good club and we are going to have out hands full the next two games."
USA dominated the next four innings putting up ten runs which included a three-run double by Doss and a three-run home run down the right field line by freshman Ryan McCrory. Doss led the Jags with three hits and five RBIs, while scoring four runs. Former St. Paul’s Saint Bill Kleinschrodt had two hits, including a double and an RBI.
The Jags continue play tomorrow against Siena with a 2 p.m. start at Stanky Field. Live stats for all Jaguar baseball games are available at www.usajaguars.com. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or by calling the USA Ticket Office at (251) 460-6047.
