MOBILE, Ala. ? South Alabama scored four runs in the ninth inning, overcoming a three-run deficit, to defeat the Arkansas State Indians 15-14 at Stanky Field Sunday afternoon. The Jags improve to 14-8 on the year and 2-4 in the Sun Belt Conference. Arkansas State drops to 9-11 and 2-4 in the SBC.
David Doss hit a two-run home run and pinch hitter Sean Laird had an RBI double to tie the game, before Ryne Jernigan walked with the bases loaded, forcing in the winning run. USA scored four times in the ninth, to win the game and the series. Chris LaGrow picked up the win for USA, he is now 1-0. Jacob Maggard took the loss, he is now 2-2.
“Our guys had a lot of fight today,” said USA head coach Steve Kittrell. “Both teams fought hard. We didn’t play pretty but we won and it was huge. I was so proud of the guys for coming back.”
USA fell behind early, as ASU plated two runs in the second and two runs in the third off of USA starter Joey Doan. Josh Yates landed a big blow, a two-run home run to left field, as ASU opened a 4-0 lead.
The Jags fought back and scored four times in the third inning. Five hits, highlighted by a Doss two-run single, got the Jags back in the game at 4-3. Eric Shortell then followed with an RBI single, to tie the game at four.
Just as quickly as USA tied the game, ASU untied it. The first pitch of the fourth inning was hammered for a home run by Brandon Eller and USA was down again, by a score of 5-4.
The seesaw game continued, as USA scored four more times in the bottom of the fourth. Ryne Jernigan opened the inning with his first home run of the season and USA took the lead on a two-run single by Joel Collins. At the end of the fourth, USA held an 8-5 lead.
ASU outscored the Jags in the next two innings 6-2, as ASU scored two runs in the fifth and four runs in the sixth. Yates provided more offense, as he hammered his second home-run of the day, another two-run blast to left.
With the scored tied at 11 in the top of the ninth inning, ASU broke through for three runs off of LaGrow, which set the stage for USA’s come-from-behind victory.
Clint Toomey opened the Jag ninth with a walk. Doss then homered to left, to get he Jags within one. Shortell followed with the best at-bat of the day, fouling off several pitches before singling through the left side. Laird then pitch hit and line a double into the left center field gap. Pinch runner Clint Reynolds scored all the way from first to tie the game at 14. After Collins walked and pinch hitter Russell Harben was hit, Jernigan came to the plate. Maggard threw four consecutive balls to force in the winning run and end the game.
Next up for USA is a mid-week game against Ole Miss on Tuesday afternoon. Game time is 4 p.m. Live Stats can be accessed at www.USAJAGUARS.com. Tickets for the Ole Miss game can be bought at the gate, or can be purchased by calling the USA Ticket Office at (251) 460-6047.
