Official Box Score
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. ? Sunday’s Sun Belt Conference series finale started 67 minutes late due to rain. South Alabama wished the delay lasted all day. The Jaguars opened a 1-0 lead, but allowed 11 unanswered runs in an 11-1 loss to the Middle Tennessee Sunday afternoon at Reese Smith Field.
The game was called in the bottom of the seventh because of the league’s 10-run rule. It snapped a four-game winning streak for the Jaguars.
For the third straight day, South Alabama scored in the top of the first. With one out, Clint Toomey singled through the right side and took third when David Doss doubled into the left field corner. Ryne Jernigan picked up 59th RBI of the season when he flied out to center.
Middle Tennessee tied the game in the third on the benefit of walks. The first two batters were retired when starter Brandon Sage walked the next two batters. Blake McDade singled through the left side to even the game at one.
The Blue Raiders took their first lead of the series when a run scored on a double play in the fourth. They added another run in the fifth on a run-scoring single by Grant Box. Middle Tennessee broke the game open in the sixth with six runs, four of which came in on three straight bases-loaded walks and a wild pitch. The Jaguars used four pitchers in the inning before Chris LaGrow could get the final two outs.
A two-out, two-run single by Box in the seventh gave Middle the 10-run advantage that ended the game.
Sage (3-2) took the loss despite giving up only two runs through four innings. He walked four and struck out two, but reached 92 pitches after running the count full several times.
Miles Ethridge allowed four runs in 1.1 innings, while Travis Johnson walked all three batters he faced in the sixth. Michael Raia surrendered a hit and a walk to the two batters he faced.
The nine walks allowed by the staff were the second-most this season, trailing only 11 against Florida Atlantic on April 6.
Chad Edwards (3-1) pitched the first complete game for the Blue Raiders since the 2005 season. He limited the Jaguars to just six hits. He struck out three while walking only one.
South Alabama takes the week off for semester exams before the final Sun Belt Conference home series of the year. The Jaguars welcome first-place Louisiana-Monroe to Stanky Field beginning Friday at 6 p.m.
