MOBILE, Ala. ? Greg Johnson turned in the longest outing of his career, and David Doss homered twice to lead the University of South Alabama to a 17-12 win over Mississippi State Tuesday night at Stanky Field.
Johnson came on in relief with the bases loaded, no outs and the Jags leading 7-3 in the top of the fourth. While he allowed all three inherited runners and one run of his own to score, he escaped another bases-loaded jam to keep the game tied at 7-7. Then he went to work.
USA (9-13) responded with four runs to take an 11-7 lead, and the Jags led the rest of the way as Johnson struck out nine batters in 5.2 innings ? 1.2 innings longer, and six strikeouts more than his previous career highs. He faced only one batter above the minimum over the next four innings before running into trouble with two outs in the ninth.
“I talked to my dad for about 45 minutes last night about going back to a quicker pace, and it really made a difference,” Johnson said. “My team having my back is what made this game tonight. Right away they put up that four-spot, and that just took everything off of my back.”
Adam Heisler got the hit parade started when he followed Clint Reynolds’ walk and Zach Grichor’s single with a three-run homer to put USA ahead 3-0 in the first inning. Heisler went 3-for-5 with three runs and four RBI, and Grichor went 3-for-6 with three runs. USA’s two through five hitters went a combined 12-for-21 with 10 runs and 10 RBI.
Mississippi State (13-10) starter Michael Busby was chased from the game after recording only one out when walking Sean Laird three batters after surrendering the home run to Heisler, and each of the Bulldogs’ next three relievers allowed four runs.
Doss delivered his first homer of the game as the leadoff batter in the third. He also knocked a double in the fifth and a three-run blast in the seventh. The double was the 55th of his career, making him USA’s all-time leader. He finished the night 3-for-5 with four RBI and a pair of runs scored.
Clint Reynolds capped the Jags’ scoring with a two-run single in the eighth that put USA ahead 17-8. Mississippi State knocked three home runs in the ninth to cut the Jags’ lead to 17-12, but with two outs, Brandon Brown came on in relief and struck out Frank Rawdow to end the threat.
The Jags return to the diamond to take on Southeastern Louisiana (14-7) at 6 p.m. Wednesday night at Stanky Field.
Notes: Zach Grichor’s first-inning single extended his hitting streak to 14 games. That streak ties David Doss for the longest by a Jag this season ... Doss’ double in the fifth inning was the 55th of his career, making him South Alabama’s all-time doubles leader ... Doss’ fourth-inning homer moved him into a tie for sixth on USA’s all-time list with Luis Gonzalez and Jeff Cunningham. His seventh-inning blast gave him sole possession of sixth place ... Doss moved into sole possession of fourth place on the all-time runs list when he scored his 161st run in the first inning ... Johnson earned the win to improve to 3-2 on the season ... Heisler set a new career high with four RBI. He had three RBI in a game three times this season ... Brown was the only Jag starter not to record a hit, but he drew a walk and laid down a sacrifice bunt.
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).
