MOBILE, Ala - University of South Alabama baseball scored five unanswered runs and rallied from a four-run deficit to defeat No. 22-ranked Southeastern Louisiana 12-11 Tuesday evening at Stanky Field, and extend its season-long winning streak to six games.
The Jaguars loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth inning on a leadoff single by Adam Heisler and consecutive walks to Zach Grichor and Jake Overstreet. Heisler was cut down at the plate on a fielder's choice off the bat of Brent Tanner, then Sean Laird hit what looked to be an inning-ending double play to third base. Lion third baseman Josh Cryer stepped on third for the second out of the inning, but Grichor slid in ahead of a high throw to win the game.
Laird went 4-for-5 with five RBI, one run scored and a walk to lead the Jags at the plate. Grichor went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI, and three runs scored, and Brandon Brown and Heisler added two hits each.
USA right-hander Carlton Paris (1-0) earned the win in one shutout inning of relief, and allowed just one hit. Paris and left-hander Phillip Byrd held the Lions scoreless in the final three innings of the game.
SLU right-hander Chris Franklin (3-2) took the loss in 2.1 innings of relief, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out three and issuing three walks.
Left fielder Cody Gougler went 4-for-5 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored to lead the Lions at the plate. Justin Boudreaux, and Brock Hebert added two hits and two RBI each.
Boudreaux hit a solo home run to left-center field in the top of the first inning to give the Lions a 1-0 lead, but USA tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the when Laird drew a bases-loaded walk.
SLU took a 5-1 lead in the top of the third inning with four runs on five hits. Sparacino led off the inning with a double, and scored on Chad Gough-Fortenberry's double to right-center field. Hebert followed with a two-run home run to left-center field to give the Lions a 4-1 lead. Harkensee then singled to score Boudreaux, who reached base on a single.
The Jags cut the SLU lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the second inning when Brown tripled to left field, and scored on Reynolds' sacrifice fly to left field.
USA tied the game 5-5 in the bottom of the fourth with three runs on two hits. Tanner doubled down the right field line to score Heisler, who reached base after being hit by a pitch. Laird then delivered a two-out single up the middle to score Overstreet and Tanner.
The Lions added a run in the top of the fifth inning when Harkensee tripled to right-center field, and later scored on Gougler's sacrifice fly to left field to take a 6-5 lead.
USA answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 7-6 lead. Reynolds reached base on a fielder's choice, stole second and scored on a two-base throwing error by Lion catcher Gough-Fortenberry. Heisler reached base after being hit by a pitch, and scored on Grichor's double to left field.
SLU scored five runs in the top of the sixth inning on one hit to take an 11-7 lead. The Lions loaded the bases with a walk, hit by pitch and fielder's choice. Boudreaux was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Hebert. Harkensee then delivered a two-run double to right-center field to score Trey Martin and Cass Hargis. Harkensee later scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Gougler.
USA cut the SLU lead to 11-8 in the bottom of the sixth with a run on three hits. Laird reached base on a single, and later scored on an RBI single by Vick.
The Jags tied the game in the bottom of the seventh with three runs on four hits. Heisler tripled to lead off the inning, and scored on an RBI single by Grichor. Tanner followed with a base on balls, then Laird singled to left field to score Grichor and Tanner.
USA ended the game with one run on one hit in the bottom of the ninth.
South Alabama (22-10, 10-2 SBC) returns to action Wednesday with a 6:30 p.m. contest at Auburn.
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: Tanner extended his on-base streak to 28 games ... Laird tied a career high in RBI and hits, and has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games ... USA moved to 38-10 all-time against SLU, and 23-3 all-time at Stanky Field, marking their sixth consecutive win over the Lions at Stanky Field.
