Official Box Score
MOBILE, Ala. -- South Alabama scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the eighth to cap its biggest rally of the year in a wild 16-13 victory over Louisiana-Monroe Saturday afternoon at Stanky Field. The Jaguars trailed 6-0 after the first inning and 11-6 after five innings in a game televised live on CSS.
The Jaguars scored three in the sixth and four in the seventh to gain a 13-11 lead, then tallied three in the bottom of the eighth after ULM had tied it at 13 with a pair of runs in the top of the inning.
For the second straight game, Ray Kruml was the offensive star, going 3-for-5 with a career-high six runs batted in. Ryne Jernigan had four hits in five at-bats and Bunky Kateon finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored and another three batted in.
But it was sophomore lefty Lance Baxter that may have made the biggest contribution. Called in from the bullpen after starter Kevin Nabors surrendered six runs over two-thirds of inning, he held the Warhawks to just one run over the next three innings, allowing the Jaguars to regroup and close within 7-6. He pitched into the eighth, leaving with USA up 13-11.
ULM (31-16, 19-7) send 10 men to the plate in the first, using six hits and three walks to open the 6-0 lead. Baxter got the final out of the first on a swinging strikeout, but gave up an RBI single in the second that made the score 7-0.
But South Alabama (27-20, 12-11) started its first rally in the third. Chris Davis hit the first pitch over the fence in right center and Kateon singled on a 1-2 pitch. After an out, Kruml homered down the right field line, cutting the margin to 7-3. Clint Toomey doubled in the same direction before Jernigan later singled one out later to complete the four-run frame. Davis and Kateon combined for two runs int he fourth with a one-out single and home run to straight-away centerfield.
ULM stretched the advantage back to five, 11-6, in the fifth. After the first batter was retired two singles set up Nick Maragas for and RBI double, then Nick Wade hit a three-run homer down the left-field line. The eight- and nine-hitters, Margas and Wade went 4-for-4 and 2-for-5, each driving in four runs.
But a crucial fielding error in the bottom of the inning allowed the Jaguars to stay close. With runners on first and second and one out, Jake Overstreet hit a spinner to first baseman Matt Collins, who allowed the ball to go through his legs into right field for a run. Kruml followed with a two-run single up the middle to make the score 11-9.
The Jaguars took their first lead of the game in the seventh. Jernigan and Ryan McCrory started the inning with singles, then advanced a base on a wild pitch. After a strikeout, Overstreet walked to load the bases, then Kateon singled in a run. Kruml followed with a single to put the Jaguars up 12-11. But the play did not end there as the cutoff throw to third by Collins was wild, allowing Overstreet to score.
ULM evened the game off Jaguar closer Greg Johnson in the eighth. After Baxter gave up a leadoff walk, Johnson gave up an RBI double and a run-scoring single.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Jaguars put runners on first and second when Doss walked and Jernigan singled. Derek O'Reilly put down a perfect sacrifice bunt down the third base line, forcing shortstop-turned-reliever Ben Soignier to throw the ball away at first, scoring both runners and putting O'Reilly at second. Another sacrifice allowed Davis to bring in an insurance run with a sacrifice fly to center.
Johnson (3-1) earned the win, despite his second blown save in his last three outings. Devin Pourciau, who issued the leadoff walk to Doss in the eighth, took the loss to fall to 3-2.
"As a coaching staff, we are extremely proud of these guys today," Head Coach Steve Kittrell said. "We got down 6-0, but no one quit. We knew we could score some runs."
The two teams meet again on Sunday to decide the three-game series. The game is designated "Little League Day" and "K-12 Appreciation Day" as youngster and their coaches and teachers are admitted free.
