MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - University of South Alabama right-hander D.D. Hanks pitched his third complete game of the season and struck out nine batters to lead the Jaguars to a 10-7 win over Middle Tennessee Friday night at Reese Smith Jr. Field.
Hanks (5-1) allowed seven runs on 15 hits, but did not issue a walk while pitching into the ninth inning for the fourth time in as many starts.
Six Jaguars recorded multiple hits in the contest, led by Adam Heisler, who went 3-for-6 with a double and four runs scored. Senior right fielder Sean Laird went 3-for-5 with three RBI.
Middle Tennessee left-hander Kenneth Roberts (1-1) took the loss in six innings, allowing 10 runs on 15 hits while striking out three.
Blue Raider designated hitter Justin Guidry went 5-for-5 with a double, home run, three RBI and two runs scored. Justin Miller went 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored, and third baseman Tyler Burnett went 3-for-5 with a home run, one RBI and two runs scored.
"D.D. [Hanks] threw the ball real well," USA head coach Steve Kittrell said. "They had some hits on him, but he really set the tempo early in the game. He had good velocity, and his breaking ball was good. The guys swung the bats well. We were fortunate to get some big hits when we had to have them. We hit some balls in the right places. We played a lot smarter tonight, and thought overall we played well."
The Jaguars took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Heisler led off the game with a double off the center field wall, and moved to third on Jake Overstreet's single to left field. Laird then delivered a two-run single up the middle to score Heisler and Overstreet.
USA (16-9, 6-1) extended its lead to 5-0 in the top of the second inning with three runs on four hits. Clint Reynolds started the two-out rally with a single up the middle, and moved to second on Heisler's single up the middle. Zach Grichor followed with a two-run single to right field to score Reynolds and Heisler to give the Jags a 4-0 lead. Overstreet then singled to right-center field to score Grichor.
The Blue Raiders cut the USA lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI single by Will Skinner to score Guidry who singled to lead off the inning.
The Jaguars extended their lead to 6-1 in the top of the third inning when Taylor White singled to left-center field to score Tyler Vick who singled to lead off the inning.
Middle Tennessee (14-7, 4-3) cut the USA in half, 6-3, in the bottom of the third inning with two runs on four hits with an RBI single by Guidry and RBI double by Miller.
USA increased its lead to 7-3 in the top of the fourth when Heisler scored when Overstreet grounded into a double play.
The Blue Raiders cut the Jaguar lead to 7-4 in the bottom of the fifth inning on Guidry's home run to right-center field.
The Jaguars extended their lead to 10-4 in the top of the sixth inning with three runs on four hits. USA loaded the bases on a Blue Raider error and consecutive singles by Grichor and Overstreet. Laird followed with an RBI single to center field to score Heisler, then Vick singled through the right side to score Grichor and give USA an 9-4 lead. White's sacrifice fly to center scored Overstreet and increased the Jaguar lead to six runs.
The Blue Raiders scored a run on two hits in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI double by Guidry that scored Blake McDade and cut the USA lead to 10-5.
Middle Tennessee threatened in the bottom of the ninth with two runs on three hits. Burnett hit a solo home run to right-center field, and the Blue Raiders scored their final run on an RBI single by Miller.
Due to impending weather, Sunday's 1 p.m. game has been moved to Saturday as part of a doubleheader, beginning at 1 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on WNSP 105.5 FM in Mobile, and can be accessed nationwide at www.wnsp.com.
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 on-base streak to 26 games, dating back to May 21 of last season ... Brent Tanner extended his on-base streak to 21 games after reaching on a hit by pitch in the third inning ... Hanks pitched into the ninth inning for the fourth time in as many starts ... USA improved to 34-16 all-time against Middle Tennessee, and 11-5 all-time in Murfreesboro.
