VMOBILE, Ala. - University of South Alabama senior right-hander D.D. Hanks pitched his first career complete game, scattering nine hits in nine innings, to earn his third win in as many starts and lead the Jaguars to a 7-2 win over Tulane Wednesday night at Stanky Field.
Hanks (3-0) allowed runs in the second and third innings, but then settled in to pitch six consecutive scoreless innings while striking out five and issuing just one walk.
"D.D. just filled up the zone," USA assistant coach Scot Sealy said. "He had control of all four pitches, and threw a lot of ground balls. The guys played good defense behind him, and the addition of the cutter has been a plus-plus pitch for him. He kept putting it in the right spot, getting in his count, staying in his count and dictating what we needed to throw. He worked ahead all night, and just filled up the zone."
The Jaguar defense matched Hanks' effort with three double plays turned on the night, including a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.
"It was an all-around good win tonight," Hanks said. "I gave up a couple of runs early, but I finally started to feel all my pitches and they worked well for me. The offense and defense helped me out, and I'm just proud of our team. It was a good game."
Five Jaguars recorded multiple hits in the win, led by senior Clint Reynolds who went 2-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and one run scored. Zach Grichor, Jake Overstreet, Brent Tanner and Sean Laird added two hits each for USA.
Tulane right-hander Kyle McKenzie took the loss for the Green Wave, allowing four runs on eight hits in two innings pitched. Third baseman Rob Segedin went 2-for-4 with one RBI to lead Tulane at the plate.
The Jaguars jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single by Tanner that scored Grichor, who reached on a single earlier in the inning.
Tulane (5-3) answered with a run in the top of the second inning to tie the score 1-1. Shortstop Garrett Cannizaro led off the inning with a double to left field, advanced to third on a single by Matt Shortall and scored when Brennan Middleton grounded into a double play.
USA scored three runs on four hits in the bottom of the second inning to take a 4-1 lead. Brandon Brown doubled and scored on an RBI double by Reynolds, then Grichor followed with an RBI double that plated Reynolds. Overstreet followed with a single to right field to score Grichor.
The Green Wave cut the USA lead to 4-2 in the top of the third inning when Segedin doubled to center field to score Boullosa from second base.
USA went scoreless for three innnings until first baseman Brad Hook increased the Jaguar lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the sixth on a double down the right field line to score White, who singled to lead off the inning.
The Jags extended their lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning when Tanner doubled to right center, scoring Adam Heisler who reached on a bunt single to lead off the inning.
USA added its final run in the bottom of the eighth inning when shortstop Brandon Brown scored on Reynolds' ground out to second.
The Jaguars snapped Tulane's five-game win streak with the win, and also improved to 4-1 in their last five games.
USA (6-3) returns to action this weekend with a four-game set against Siena, beginning Friday night at 6 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).
- USA -
NOTES: USA improved to 25-24 all-time against Tulane with the win, and 15-7 all-time against the Green Wave at Stanky Field ... Jaguar head coach Steve Kittrell moved to within four games of his 1,000th win at South Alabama ... Reynolds extended his on-base streak to 29 games, dating back to April 15 of last season, and extended his hitting streak to seven games ... Heisler went 1-for-4 in the game, and has now reached base in 57 of 58 career games at South Alabama ... Overstreet made his 103rd consecutive start at third base ... Tanner has hit safely in six of his first seven games at USA ... Laird extended his hitting streak to seven games, and has recorded multiple hits in four straight games.
