MOBILE, Ala. - University of South Alabama baseball rallied to score three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat North Florida 4-2 Saturday afternoon in the 25th Annual South Alabama Classic at Stanky Field.
USA senior Clint Reynolds led off the inning with a single, and advanced to second on a throwing error by UNF pitcher Casey Medlen. Adam Heisler followed with an RBI single that scored Reynolds to tie the game 2-2. Jaguar catcher Brent Tanner followed with a single up the middle to score Heisler and Overstreet and give USA a 4-2 lead.
"We needed a win in a close ballgame, USA head coach Steve Kittrell said. "The guys really clutched up late. I thought Garrett Harris threw really well for us. We got clutch hits when we had to have them, and our guys executed today. It was a big win for us, and hopefully, this will give us some confidence.
Jaguar left-hander Phillip Byrd (1-0) pitched 1.1 innings in relief to earn the win. Byrd allowed just one hit while striking out two of five batters he faced. USA senior Lance Baxter earned his second save in as many days, with two strikeouts in one inning pitched. UNF reliever Casey Medlen (0-1) took the loss in 0.1 innings pitched, allowing three runs on three hits.
The USA bullpen combined to allow just one hit in 2.1 scoreless innings.
Jaguar third baseman Jake Overstreet went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored to lead USA at the plate. Reynolds and Sean Laird als added two hist each for the Jags. Kyle Dahl and Andrew Karmeris each collected two hits each to lead the Ospreys at the plate.
UNF (1-4) shortstop Andrew Hannon led off the game with a double, and later scored on Preston Hale's groundout to second to give the Ospreys a 1-0 lead after the top of the first inning.
North Florida starting pitcher George Lott held the Jags scoreless until the fifth inning, when Reynolds drove in Sean Laird to tie the game 1-1. Laird led off the inning with a single.
The Ospreys took a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI single by T.J. Thompson that scored Robbie Collier, who led off the inning with a double.
Neither team scored until USA scored the game's final three runs in the eighth inning. USA starting pitcher Garrett Harris pitched 6.2 innings, allowing two runs on 10 hits in his second start of the season.
USA (4-2) returns to action Sunday with two games Sunday afternoon at Stanky Field. The Jaguars will face Wichita State at noon to close the 25th Annual South Alabama Classic, before hosting Eastern Michigan in a non-conference matchup at 4 p.m. at Stanky Field.
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).
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NOTES: USA moved to 1-0 all-time against North Florida ... Kittrell moved to within six games of his 1,000th win as head coach at South Alabama ... The Jags moved to 37-23 all-time in the South Alabama Classic ... USA senior Clint Reynolds extended his on-base streak to 26 games, dating back to April 15 of last season ... Heisler has now reached base safely in 54 of his 55 career games at USA.
