LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - University of South Alabama righthander Garrett Harris allowed four runs on just three hits in six innings to lead the Jaguars to a 9-7 win over UALR Saturday afternoon at Gary Hogan Field.
Harris (2-1) struck out six Trojan batters while issuing three walks. Jaguar lefthander Lance Baxter earned his third save of the season in 1.1 innings of shutout relief and did not allow a hit while striking out three.
Jaguar left fielder Sean Laird went 3-for-5 with a home run and double, with three RBI and two runs scored. Zach Grichor also collected three hits, going 3-for-6 with an RBI and one run scored. Jake Overstreet and Taylor White also recorded two hits, and White stole a career-high three bases.
"Garrett [Harris] gave us a good tempo and pitched well," USA head coach Steve Kittrell said. "He was throwing strikes, and did a great job allowing us to extend the lead. We had some key hits, offensively, and it was a big win for us. Grichor was outstanding with the bat again, and Laird's home run was huge because we needed every run we had at the end of the game. But on the road, we showed some poise at the end of the game and didn't fall apart, so that was big."
UALR righthander Anthony Pryor took the loss in 2.2 innings, allowing three runs on six hits. Pryor struck out four while walking three.
Trojan third baseman Casey McCollum went 2-for-3 with two RBI to lead UALR at the plate.
The Jags took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first with three runs on four hits. Overstreet singled to left field to score Grichor from second and give USA a 1-0 lead. Laird followed with a double to right field to move Overstreet to third base, then White singled up the middle to score Overstreet and Laird.
UALR (10-5, 0-2) cut the Jaguar lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the first when Jason Houston singled to right center ot score Tyler Cameron, who reached on a walk earlier in the inning.
The Trojans scored a run in the bottom of the second inning to cut the USA lead to 3-2 when Casey McCollum singled up the middle to score Wilson.
South Alabama increased its lead to 5-2 in the top of the fourth with two runs on two hits. Laird singled to right center to score Overstreet, who singled earlier in the inning. White reached on a fielder's choice later in the inning to score Tanner who reached on a walk earlier in the inning.
The Jags opened up an 8-2 lead in the top of the sixth inning on a two-run home run to right center field by Laird,which scored Brent Tanner who reached on a single.
UALR scored one run in the bottom of the sixth to cut the Jaguar lead to 8-3 on McCollum's single through the left side of the infield to score Tyson Parks, who reached on a walk.
USA added a run in the top of the seventh inning to take a 9-3 lead. Brandon Brown led off the inning with a double off the left field wall, and scored on a single by Grichor.
The Trojans rallied to cut the USA lead to 9-7 in the bottom of the eighth inning with four runs on three hits. Parks' groundout to second scored Jason Houston, then Wilson followed with an RBI double to center field to score Jake Rowell, who reached base after being hit by a pitch. Bryce Killingsworth tripled later in the inning to score Wilson, and would later score on a wild pitch.
USA (11-6, 2-0) will go for the series sweep Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. in the final game of the three-game set.
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).
- USA -
NOTES: Grichor extended his hitting streak to 13 games ... Laird hit his team-leading fifth home run of the season ... Overstreet drove in a run for the sixth consecutive game ... USA improved to 52-9 all-time against UALR.
