Official Box Score
MIAMI, Fla. ? Senior Kevin Nabors scattered five hits over 6.1 innings and Clint Toomey and Sean Laird each drove in a pair of runs as South Alabama earned a 5-4 victory over Florida International Saturday afternoon at University Park. The win evens the Sun Belt Conference series at a game apiece and moved the Jaguars just one win away from clinching a spot in the league tournament.
South Alabama (29-21, 14-12) got on the scoreboard first with a run in the fourth. David Doss and Ryne Jernigan singled to start the frame. After a fielder’s choice put runners at the corners, Laird singled to center to bring home Doss.
Florida International (18-34, 10-16) took a 2-1 lead with runs in the fourth and fifth with walks leading to both runs. The fourth started with a single and walk, followed by a hit-batter to load the bases. A double-play helped the Jaguars get out of the inning, but plated a run. In the fifth, a leadoff walk and sacrifice set up Ryan Mollica for an RBI double.
But the Jaguars took control with two runs in both the sixth and seventh to open a 5-2 lead. First, Ryan Bohanan doubled in Toomey to tie the score at 2, then Laird singled down the left field line to give the Jaguars the lead.
Jake Overstreet singled with one out in the seventh, before Ray Kruml doubled. Toomey brought both men home with a chopper through the right side of a drawn-in infield.
Nabors (6-3) allowed just two runs before following a leadoff strikeout in the seventh with a pair of walks. Lance Baxter took over and immediately induced a double-play ball to get out of the jam with no damage.
The Golden Panthers closed to within 5-4 on a Tyler Townsend’s second home run of the series, a two-run fly over the left field fence in the eight. But Baxter covered first on a groundout deep on the right side of the infield before ending the inning with a strikeout.
Greg Johnson gave up a one-out single in the ninth, but two defensive gems ended the contest. First, Jernigan dug out a throw from Overstreet on a fielder’s choice at second, then Johnson stabbed a comebacker to throw out the final batter. The save was his 10th of the season, tying him for third on the USA single-season list and ninth on the career list.
“It was a good pitcher’s duel,” said Head Coach Steve Kittrell. “Nabors walked a few but settled in a threw a great game for us. Taking the three-run lead on Toomey’s single was crucial because the wind was blowing out. Our guys clutched up under pressure for a one-run win on the road.”
Toomey and Laird both finished the contest 2-for-4, while Bohanan was 3-for-4 with an RBI.
The Jaguars improved to 9-3 in one-run games this season with the victory and go for their fifth series win of the year tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. Eastern time.
