MOBILE, Ala. -- After gaining just five hits in the first game of a doubleheader against Nicholls State Tuesday, South Alabama pounded out 13 in the nightcap, earning a split with the Colonels at Stanky Field. NSU won the first game 5-3, while the Jaguars earned a 10-3 victory in game two.
Ray Kruml went 6-for-9 with four runs scored during the doubleheader, including a 4-for-5 effort in game 2. He also gained two of the Jags' five hits in the opener. Jake Overstreet also enjoyed a solid day at the plate, securing five hits in eight at-bats, while scoring twice and driving in a pair of runs.
After falling behind 2-0 and 3-2 in the nightcap, the Jaguars scored three runs in the fourth to open a 5-3 lead, then added three in the sixth and two in the seventh. An error tied the game at three before Ryne Jernigan doubled to score Kruml and Bohanan hit a sacrifice fly to score Doss for a 5-3 lead. Two innings later, Doss and Kruml had back-to-back RBI doubles to open a 7-3 lead. A balk plated the third run of the frame and made the score 8-3 after six.
A leadoff double by Overstreet led to the last two runs of the game. Kruml followed with a bunt single to put runners at the corners, then a sacrifice fly and wild pitch put the Jags up 10-3.
South Alabama registered 13 hits, but committed three errors. James Dunning (1-0) got the win in relief of starter Chris LaGrow, who pitched three innings after missing the first part of the season with an injury. Dunning allowed just two hits and one earned run in his two innings on the moundf, then turned it over to three others who did not allow a run.
"We just didn't swing the bats at first," Head Coach Steve Kittrell said. "And I know know why. We just aren't hitting with men on base. But baseball is a strange game and it came back in the second. I was very pleased with our pitching tonight, even in the opener."
In the opener, South Alabama trailed 1-0 after just a half inning as the Colonels opened the game with a double, infield single and sacrifice bunt to take the lead. The Jaguars loaded the bases with no outs, but could not get a run in, setting the tone for the rest of the game. Nicholls added two in third on a wind-blown home run by Shane Barksdale, but USA answered with two of its own in the bottom of the frame. A walk and a fielding error put two men on for Chris Davis, who singled to right center to bring both runners home.
Nicholls manufactured single runs in the fourth and seventh to go up 5-2, utilizing leadoff singles and sacrifice bunts. A run scoring single by Corey Arceneaux and groundout by Barksdale, respectively, plated runs. The Jaguars had more chances in their last at-bat, plating a run but leaving the bases loaded for a second time. Kruml singled before Clint Toomey walked and David Doss singled. After an infield pop-up, Davis flied out to center to make the score 5-3. A walk reloaded the bases, but Ryan Bohanan grounded out to second to end the game.
Jaguar starter Luke Grissett took the loss to fall to 0-1. He allowed four earned runs in 4.0 innings, striking out three.
South Alabama now hits the road for five straight games, beginning with a Sun Belt Conference series at New Orleans this weekend. The Jags then travel to Mississippi State for a mid-week series next Tuesday and Wednesday.
