MOBILE, Ala. - Right-hander D.D. Hanks pitched seven consecutive shutout innings and allowed just two runs to earn his fourth complete game of the season and lead University of South Alabama baseball to a 9-2 win over New Orleans Friday night at Stanky Field.

Hanks (7-1) scattered 10 hits while striking out nine UNO batters, and issued just one walk to mark the fifth consecutive start he has pitched into the ninth inning.

Jaguar second baseman Zach Grichor went 2-for-3 with three RBI and one run scored to lead USA at the plate, and extended his on-base streak to 30 games, dating back to May 21 of last season. Jake Overstreet and Clint Reynolds also added two hits each in the game.

New Orleans right-hander John Pivach (0-3) took the loss in four innings for the Privateers, allowing nine runs on nine hits while striking out two and issuing four walks.

Right fielder Ryan Eden went 3-for-5 with a double and one run scored to lead the Privateers at the plate. Nick Schwaner and Rodarrick Jones also added two hits each for UNO.

South Alabama scored multiple runs in consecutive innings to take a 9-0 lead through five innings en route to their eighth Sun Belt Conference victory.

The Jags scored four runs on six consecutive singles to take a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Grichor delivered a two-run single to score Reynolds and Brandon Brown, and Overstreet and Brent Tanner added RBI singles in the inning.

USA increased its lead to 6-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning with just one hit. Tyler Vick led off the inning with a walk, and later scored on a throwing error by UNO first baseman Jerad Comarda. Reynolds, who singled earlier in the inning, added the Jags second run on a groundout off the bat of Grichor.

South Alabama extended its lead to 9-0 in the bottom of the fifth with three runs without recording a hit in the inning. Tanner, Sean Laird and Taylor White drew three consecutive walks to load the bases to start the inning. Vick was then hit by a pitch to score Tanner and give the Jags a 7-0 lead.  Brown followed with a sacrifice fly to center field to score Laird, giving USA an 8-0 lead. White scored one batter later on Reynolds' groundout to shortstop.

UNO (8-16, 1-9 SBC) scored one run in the top of the eighth inning on three hits to cut the USA lead to 9-1. Eden singled through the left side of the infield to lead off the inning, and scored one batter later on Nick Schwaner's single to right field.

The Privateers added their final run of the game in the top of the ninth inning. Rodarrick Jones led off the inning with a double to left-center field, and scored on an RBI single by John Thomas.

"I thought we played well," USA head coach Steve Kittrell said. "The guys came out swinging the bats and we got some key hits when we needed them. I thought D.D. [Hanks] won without his great stuff. He had good stuff and pitched really well. He competes so hard on the mound - he's a bulldog. He saved our bullpen tonight, which gives us a huge advantage for Saturday and Sunday. New Orleans is a good hitting team, and if you make mistakes they will capitalize on them, so we have to keep the ball down tomorrow and play good defense like we did tonight."

USA (19-10, 8-2 SBC) continues its three-game series with UNO Saturday 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).

- USA -

 

NOTES:  Grichor extended his on-base streak to 30 games, dating back to May 21 of last season ... Tanner extended his on-base streak to 25 games ... Hanks tossed his fourth complete game of the season, which marked the fifth time in as many starts the right-hander has pitched into the ninth inning ... Friday marked the eighth consecutive game the Jags have had 10 or more hits ... USA moved to 82-60 all-time against UNO ... The Jaguars moved to 3-1 in Friday night conference games this season.