MOBILE, Ala. - University of South Alabama freshman righthander Conner Reese allowed just two hits in three innings of shutout relief to earn his first career win and lead the Jaguars to a 6-4 win over Tennessee Tech Tuesday night at Stanky Field.
Reese (1-0) finished with three strikeouts and issued just one walk in 14 batters faced. Jaguar junior righthander Garrett Harris earned his first career save, allowing just one hit while striking out one in one inning pitched.
USA (9-5) loaded the bases with two outs and the score tied 4-4 in the bottom of the eighth inning, before junior third baseman Jake Overstreet delivered a two-strike single to center field to score Adam Heisler and Nathaniel Lami and give the Jags a 6-4 lead.
"I started off 0-2, took a couple of balls, and just sat on the fastball," Overstreet said. "He threw me a curve, and I was able to put a little two-strike swing on it. That's why you play the game - that's the fun part. You can forget all the other stuff and make one at-bat count."
Jaguar starter Lance Brown pitched five innings and allowed four runs, only two of which were earned, while scattering five hits, but did not factor in the decision. The USA bullpen allowed three combined hits in four innings, and struck out four TTU batters.
Clint Reynolds went 3-for-3 with a double, one RBI and one run scored to lead the Jaguars at the plate. Three USA hitters, Reynolds, Brent Tanner and Brandon Brown, recorded multiple hits in the game, while Overstreet collected his team-leading sixth multiple-RBI game of the season. USA senior right fielder Sean Laird also drove in two runs for the Jags.
TTU (4-7) righthander Ryan Hopkins took the loss in 1.2 innings of relief, allowing one run on one hit while striking out one and issuing one walk. Golden Eagle left fielder Seth Edwards went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored to lead TTU at the plate.
Tennessee Tech took an early lead in the top of the first inning with two runs on one hit. First baseman A.J. Kirby-Jones singled through the left side of the infield to score Chad Oberacker who led off the game with a walk. TTU added its second run on Casanova Donaldson's sacrifice fly to right field which scored Edwards, who reached base on a hit by pitch.
USA answered to tie the game 2-2 in the bottom of the first inning on Laird's two-run double to right-center field that scored Tanner and Zach Grichor.
The Golden Eagles pushed one run across in the top of the second inning on Ben Burgess' single through the right side of the infield which scored Kirby-Jones.
South Alabama tied the game, 3-3, in the bottom of the second inning when Reynolds singled up the middle to score Tyler Vick, who led off the inning with a double to right field.
TTU took a 4-3 lead in the top of the fourth inning when Edwards doubled down the left field line to score Oberacker who reached on an error to lead off the inning.
USA tied the game 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Heisler that scored Reynolds, who led off the inning with a double off the left field wall.
The Jags loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth inning with two outs, following a leadoff walk by Vick. Reynolds' sacrifice bunt moved Vick to second, and he advanced to third on Brown's groundout to shortstop. TTU reliever Lee Henry then issued consecutive walks to Heisler and Grichor before Overstreet delivered the eventual game-winning hit.
"It wasn't a pretty win, but one we had to come back to win," USA head coach Steve Kittrell said. "I thought Conner Reese was just outstanding, and was the difference in the game. We needed that one. It was a big hit by Overstreet, and we got key hits when we had to have them."
USA will conclude its series with Tennessee Tech Wednesday afternoon at 2 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: With the win, Kittrell moves to within one win of his 1,000th as head coach at South Alabama ... Grichor extended his hitting streak to 10 games ... Overstreet drove in two runs for his team-leading sixth multiple-RBI game ... Reynolds collected his sixth multiple-hit game of the season ... USA moved to 4-0 all-time against TTU.
