Official Box Score
MOBILE, Ala -- Brandon Sage pitched his first career complete game, striking out nine Arkansas State batters, to lead South Alabama to a 10-4 victory over the Indians Saturday at Stanky Field. The Jaguars (15-11, 4-4 SBC) go for the three-game sweep tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m.
For the second straight contest, South Alabama hit three home runs with David Doss and Chris Davis repeating from last night. Bunky Kateon also picked up his third of the season as part of the Jaguars' 12-hit attack. Davis finished the contest 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a pair of runs scored, while Ray Kruml was 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles. Doss' first-inning blast, his only hit of the game, extending his hitting streak to 13 games.
Unlike last night, Arkansas State (14-12, 5-6) jumped out to an early lead, scoring three in the first inning. The first three batters reached safely on two singles and an RBI double. After an out, Guy Brown singled to center to score two more runs. The Indians' third baseman finished the day 3-for-4 with three runs batted in.
The Jaguars struck back right away, scoring five in the first and two in the second for a 7-3 lead. Toomey singled to center with one out, then Doss hit a 1-1 pitch over the fence in left center field. After another out, two hit-batsmen by ASU starter Jacob Maggard (3-2) set the table for a three-run home run by Davis.
Three doubles accounted for the two runs in the second. Back-to-back one-out doubles led by Kruml and Toomey led to a 6-3 lead, while Ryne Jernigan doubled later in the inning to make the score 7-3.
Kateon led off the sixth with his home run to make the score 8-3, then South Alabama answered a Brown's solo home run in the eighth with two runs in the bottom of the frame. Davis walked and was sacrificed to second before Jake Overstreet tripled. Kruml's second double of the game accounted for the final run of the game.
Sage (2-1) fell just one strikeout short of his career-high, a 10-K effort at Florida Atlantic last year. He scattered 12 hits over the contest, while waking just one.
"I thought Brandon Sage settled in after the first and competed well," Head Coach Steve Kittrell said. "He put goose-eggs up for six innings while we built the lead. I thought he located his fastball inside and out and walked only two. He pitched with a lot of heart. At the plate, I think we are swinging the bats as well as we have all year."
South Alabama goes for its third straight win -- and fifth in six outings -- Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. Chris LaGrow (1-0) is expected to take the mound for the Jaguars against ASU's Joel Boeschen.
