BOCA RATON, Fla. ? Brandon Sage threw the first complete game of the season, and the University of South Alabama took the series finale against Florida Atlantic 9-3 Sunday at FAU Stadium.
Sage scattered seven hits and four walks to allowed three runs, two of which were earned, and pick up his second win of the season. He got stronger as the game went on, retiring the last eight batters in order, and picking up four of his five strikeouts in that span.
“After two tough losses, I really wanted to go out there and pick my team up,” Sage said. “It was nice to get the complete game and give us a win to feel a little better about ourselves on the trip home. I hope this is the start to getting this thing turned around.”
The USA offense had every starter record a hit for a second straight game. Adam Heisler led the way with a 3-for-5 effort, and Derek O'Reilly went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored.
“The guys swung the bats well, and it was great to get a complete game out of Sage,” head coach Steve Kittrell said. “He was a real bulldog out there, he wanted to finish, and he did a great job for us in a big game that we had to have.”
For the third consecutive game, USA got the scoring started, but the Jags waited until the third inning this time around. After facing the minimum through the first two innings, FAU starter Adam Morrison allowed three straight one-out singles that put the first run on the board.
O’Reilly got the Jags started with a single that extended his hitting streak to six straight. Clint Reynolds followed with an opposite-field single, and Heisler collected his 26th RBI of the season with a his second single of the game to put the Jags up 1-0.
Heisler’s single extended his hitting streak to eight straight, but he made the second out of the inning when he was thrown out trying to advance on the throw home. However, Reynolds took advantage of a passed ball to score the second run of the game.
David Wilson cut the Jags’ lead in half with a solo homer in the bottom of the third. In the next inning, the Owls threatened to tie the game by putting runners on the corners with consecutive two-out hits, but the Jags executed nicely to catch Mike Albaladejo breaking home on the back end of a double steal.
USA added an insurance run in the fifth without the benefit of a hit. Nathaniel Lami reached on catcher’s interference, stole second base and took third when Albaladejo’s throw bounced into center field. After O’Reilly walked, Reynolds brought Lami home with a RBI groundout, giving the Jags a 3-1 lead.
Wilson answered again in the bottom of the inning, this time knocking a RBI double to score Anthony Mesa, who reached base with a one-out walk. After William Block flied out to left, O’Reilly made a great play diving to his left and spinning to throw out Travis Ozga at first to escape the inning with the Jags still leading 3-2.
Then the USA offense went to work, as the Jags put up a six-spot in the sixth. Zach Grichor led off with a single, David Doss doubled, and Ryan Bohanan brought them both home with a single through the left side. Jake Overstreet followed with a RBI single, chasing Morrison from the game after 5.1 innings.
Lami put runners on the corners with a single, and O’Reilly’s opposite-field single allowed both of them to come home after Gratton threw the ball away trying to get Lami going to third. One out later, Heisler reached on a wild pitch after striking out, and another wild pitch allowed O’Reilly to come home giving the Jags a 9-3 lead.
FAU got a run back in the bottom of the inning when Gratton walked, advanced to third on a single and came home on a passed ball, but that would be all the offense the Owls could manage.
Sage retired nine of the last 10 batters he faced to notch the second complete game of his career, and the first for a Jag in more than a year.
USA returns to action Tuesday when it opens a five-game homestand with Nicholls at 6 p.m. The Jags welcome UALR for a three-game set over the weekend before Auburn travels to Stanky Field April 14.
Notes: Adam Heisler’s single in the first inning extended his hitting streak to a career-high eight games. He also reached base after striking out swinging on a wild pitch. It was the second time he’s done so this season, and all six of his strikeouts have been swinging ... Derek O'Reilly’s six-game hitting streak is one shy of his career best ... For the second straight game, all nine Jag starters recorded at least one hit ... Sage turned in his longest outing since throwing a complete game against Arkansas State on March 29, 2008. He allowed four runs on 12 hits in that game, a 10-4 win that also gave him his second win of the season ... The temperature in Boca Raton was 83 at the start of the game, making this the warmest game the Jags have played this season.
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).
