MOBILE, Ala. ? Florida International took advantage of a trio of errors to rally for nine runs in the ninth on its way to knocking off the University of South Alabama 21-15 Saturday at Stanky Field.
USA (23-25, 11-14 SBC) used a rally of its own to take a three-run lead to the ninth, but defensive miscues cost the Jags the game.
FIU (32-19, 16-10 SBC) sent 13 batters to the plate and scored eight unearned runs against Jag reliever Lance Baxter (3-3), who took the loss despite allowing just a pair of earned runs.
R.J. Fondon (7-2) worked a pair of scoreless innings to earn the win for the Golden Panthers.
With the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth, the Jags broke the game open with three consecutive two-run hits that put USA on top 7-1. Derek O'Reilly hit a one-out double, and Chris Davis and Clint Reynolds were each hit by pitches to load the bases.
Zach Grichor hit a two-run single, then Adam Heisler brought in two more runs with his first triple of the season, and David Doss brought Heisler home when he crushed his 10th home run of the year. FIU starter Scott Rembisz made it through the inning, then worked into the seventh before turning the ball over to his bullpen.
The lead was short-lived, as the Golden Panthers rallied for five runs in each of the next two innings. Steven Stropp and Raiko Alfonso each hit two-run singles in the fifth, while Tyler Townsend and Mike Martinez each connected on two-run homers in the sixth.
Jag starter Matt Jackson was chased from the game with one out in the sixth inning, but Phillip Byrd and D.D. Hanks allowed three runs before getting the final two outs of the inning with FIU leading 11-7.
The Jags cut into the lead with three runs in the bottom of the seventh when Jake Overstreet doubled, Brad Hook hit a pinch-hit single, and Chris Davis brought in a run when he reached on an error. Reynolds followed with a two-run single to cut the deficit to 11-10, but after Grichor singled, Heisler hit into an inning-ending double play with the potential tying run on third base.
Grichor finished the game 5-for-6 with two doubles, two runs and two RBI. It was the first five-hit game by a Jag since Adam Lind accomplished the feat in 2004. Doss went 4-for-6, scored twice and drove in a pair of runs, while Reynolds and Heisler each collected three RBI.
FIU added an insurance run in the eighth when Stropp hit a solo homer off Baxter, but the Jags took the lead with five runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Doss led off with a single, then Ryan Bohanan and Overstreet each walked to load the bases. O'Reilly tied the game with a two-run single, and Nathaniel Lami, who had entered the game as a pinch runner in the previous inning, delivered a two-run single to put the Jags on top 15-12.
However, Martinez reached on an error leading off the ninth, and after a flyout, Pablo Bermudez doubled to bring the tying run to the plate. Garrett Wittels hit a two-run single, and Junior Arrojo walked as the potential go-ahead run.
Baxter rebounded to strike out Waddell for the second out, and he looked like he would escape the jam when Townsend hit a chopper to third that was misplayed for the second error of the inning. The Golden Panthers continued to add on, and their lead was extended to 21-15 before the Jags came to bat in the bottom of the ninth.
Fondon worked a perfect ninth to seal the victory for FIU. The Jags and Golden Panthers return to action at 1 p.m. Sunday in the finale of the series. Brandon Sage is slated to take the hill for the Jags against FIU starter Corey Polizzano.
Notes: David Doss notched career hit No. 300 with a single in the first inning. He also extended his career-best streak of games reaching base safely to 20 straight ... Adam Heisler (career-long 16 games), Clint Reynolds (career-best 14 games) and Zach Grichor (10 games) also extended on-base streaks ... Doss (six games), Jake Overstreet (six games), Heisler (five games) and Grichor (four games) all extended hitting streaks ... Doss’ fourth-inning home run was the 10th of his career, tying his career-high for homers in a season. He also hit 10 as a freshman in 2006 ... The Jags extended their streak of consecutive games with at least 10 hits to six straight and 14 of the last 15 games ... USA leads the all-time series 25-18.
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).
