MOBILE, Ala. - Siena collected 13 hits and took advantage of six Jaguar errors en route to a 10-6 win over University of South Alabama baseball Friday night at Stanky Field.
Siena righthander Robert Tedesco (1-1) earned the win, allowing four runs on six hits in six innings pitched. Ryan Poplawski earned the save in three innings of relief, allowing two runs on six hits. USA righthander Lance Brown (0-1) allowed four runs on six hits to take the loss.
USA senior Zach Grichor went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Third baseman Jake Overstreet went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI, and Brandon Brown went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
Four Siena hitters collected multiple hits, led by first baseman Kevin Quaranto who went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI.
"Siena swung the bats when they needed to, and capitalized on our mistakes," USA head coach Steve Kittrell. "I've been coaching long enough to know when you play 56 games, there's going to be a couple of ugly ones. I just can't remember one with six errors. But I want to give Siena credit, because I thought their guys swung the bats really well."
The Jaguars took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on Overstreet's groundout to shortstop that scored Grichor, but Siena answered to tie the score 1-1 in the top of the second inning when Gary DerHagopian scored on a throwing error by Lance Brown, after doubling to leadoff the inning.
The Saints took a 3-1 lead in the top of the third inning with three runs on four hits, aided by an RBI double by Quaranto and an RBI single by Larry Balkwill.
Siena (2-7) extended its lead to 6-1 in the top of the fourth inning with two runs on two hits, with Quaranto delivering a single to left field that scored Anthony Giansanti and Mike Fish, who scored on an error on the Jaguar relay to the plate.
USA (6-4) answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth when Brandon Brown singled to left field to score Taylor White, who led off the inning with a double.
The Jaguars cut the Saint lead to 6-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning. Sean Laird scored on Brent Tanner's groundout to second base after leading off the inning with a walk. Brown then doubled to left field to score White, who also reached on a base on balls.
Siena then followed with a three-run seventh inning off on two hits. Kyle Hudson singled through the left side to score Balkwill. Andy Carucci then stole third and scored on a throwing error by Tanner, and Giansanti followed with an RBI single up the middle to score Hudson.
The Saints added extended their lead to 10-4 in the top of the eighth inning when Carucci singled to right field to score DerHagopian.
USA designated hitter Clint Reynolds led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a single up the middle, and Grichor followed with his fourth hit of the game on a single to center field. Overstreet then doubled down the left field line to score Reynolds, and Laird delivered a sacrifice fly to center field to plate Grichor for the Jags' final run.
USA returns to action Saturday with a doubleheader against Siena at Stanky Field, beginning at noon.
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: Reynolds extended his on-base streak to 30 games, dating back to April 15 of last season, and extend his hitting streak to eight games ... Heisler reached on a walk, and has now reached base in 58 of 59 career games ... Overstreet made his 104th career start at third base ... The Jags fell to 7-3 all-time against Siena, and suffered their first loss against the Saints since 2004 ... USA also suffered its first loss at night, falling to 3-1 in night games this season.
