DELAND, Fla. ? Clint Reynolds had a career day at the plate, and Lance Baxter allowed one earned run in 6.2 innings to pick up the win in the University of South Alabama’s 11-9 victory over Iowa Saturday at Melching Field.
“Lance pitched a very good game,” head coach Steve Kitrell said. “He had good stuff, he commanded the zone and set the tempo for the game early. Clint Reynolds has done a superb job in the leadoff spot, and he had a great day at the plate.”
Reynolds, making the sixth start of his three-year career, went 3-for-5 with a home run, a triple, two runs and three RBI, while Baxter allowed just five hits and recorded a career-high eight strikeouts.
Not to be outdone, freshman Nathaniel Lami went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and three RBI, and Brandon Brown drilled the first home run of his career, an eighth-inning, two-run blast that sailed onto the street beyond the left field fence.
Sean Laird got the Jags on the board in the fourth inning with a solo homer, but USA’s lead was short-lived. Justin Toole led off the bottom of the fourth with a double, then came around to score on a wild pitch by Baxter to even the score at 1-1.
The Jags responded with a pair of runs in the fifth when Brandon Brown hit a one-out infield single and came around to score on Reynolds’ triple. Zach Grichor brought Reynolds in with a sacrifice fly, and USA took a 3-1 lead.
Laird got the Jags going again in the sixth when he drew a leadoff walk. He advanced to third on a double by Lami and came home on Brad Hook’s sacrifice fly.
Iowa cut the Jags’ lead to one on a pair of unearned runs with two outs in the seventh, chasing Baxter from the game. Michael Raia got Iowa starting pitcher and designated hitter Wes Freie to fly out to right, ending the Hawkeyes’ threat with runners on the corners, and USA took a 4-3 lead to the eighth.
That’s when the Jag bats finally broke out of a six-game slump. Lami put USA up 5-3 with a sacrifice fly, the Jags’ third of the game. Two batters later, Brown and Reynolds combined on back-to-back homers to give each the first home run of their careers.
USA plated three more runs in the ninth to extend its lead to 11-3. Those runs proved crucial, as Iowa mounted a six-run rally in the bottom of the ninth off Jag relievers Michael Logan and Jarrett Bailey. Clinging to an 11-9 lead with one out in the ninth, USA brought Brown in from shortstop to the mound.
Brown struck out the first batter he faced, but hit the next to bring the potential tying run to the plate. He induced a flyout to right field, and the Jags held on to win 11-9, giving Brown the first save of his career.
“It was a good game offensively, but giving up six runs late was disappointing,” Kittrell said. “Our bullpen has got to do a better job, but Brandon Brown did a great job.”
USA returns to action in the finale of the Bright House Invitational Sunday at 4 p.m. against tournament-host Stetson.
Notes: Clint Reynolds extended his career-long hitting streak to six games with a third-inning single ... Ryan Bohanan’s first-inning single extended his hitting streak to seven straight, and 16 of the past 17 dating back to 2008 ... David Doss knocked a ninth-inning double, moving him into sole possession of third place of USA’s all-time hits list with 231 ... The double was also the 52nd of Doss’ career, moving him into sole possession of second place on the Jags’ all-time doubles list ... Brown and Reynolds were the first USA players to combine on back-to-back homers since Chris Davis and Bunky Kateon did so on May 4, 2008.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
