MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Jaguar right-hander D.D. Hanks allowed just one run while scattering nine hits in 8.1 innings to lead fifth-seeded University of South Alabama baseball to a 7-1 win over fourth-seeded Florida International Wednesday in the Sun Belt Conference Championship at Reese Smith Jr. Field.
Hanks (10-6) struck out eight Golden Panther batters while issuing two walks to become the first 10-win pitcher at South Alabama since P.J. Walters won 11 games in 2006.
"The last four outings I have struggled a little, and I knew coming into this game it was all or nothing," Hanks said. "It was good to get my confidence back up and come out with a win in the first game of the tournament."
Jaguar second baseman Zach Grichor went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored to lead USA at the plate. Adam Heisler went 2-for-5 with two RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases. Brent Tanner had two hits and an RBI, Brandon Brown added two hits and a run, and Jake Overstreet had one hit and an RBI.
FIU left-hander R.J. Fondon (5-3) took the loss in 8.1 innings, allowing seven runs on 10 hits while striking out seven.
Yoandy Barroso went 3-for-4 with a double and one RBI, and Jeremy Patton went 3-for-4 with two doubles to pace the Golden Panthers at the plate.
USA opened up a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Tyler Vick and RBI single by Tanner. The Jags loaded the bases when Heisler reached on an error by Wittels, Grichor was hit by pitch and Overstreet reached on a bunt single down the third base line. Vick followed with a sacrifice fly to deep left-center field to score Heisler, then Tanner singled through the right side to score Grichor from second base.
FIU (31-23) cut the Jaguar lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI single by Barroso to score Patton, who led off the inning with a double.
Grichor gave South Alabama a 4-1 lead in the top of the seventh when he hit a 1-0 changeup from Fondon over the left field wall after Heisler reached on a two-out single.
"I just came out today with the mindset that it's a new season," Grichor said. "Before the home run, coach came over and told us to sit on the off-speed stuff, and I got a changeup up in the zone and put a good swing on it."
USA increased its lead to 7-1 in the top of the ninth inning on a two-run single by Heisler and sacrifice fly by Overstreet. Heisler singled up the middle to score Taylor White and Brown. Heisler then stole second and third, before scoring on Overstreet's sacrifice fly for the game's final run.
"D.D. [Hanks] threw well today," USA head coach Steve Kittrell said. "He had a good fastball, good breaking ball for strikes when he needed it, and an outstanding cutter. He did a great job. It was a good win, and now we have to get ready for tomorrow."
South Alabama (32-25) will return to action in the SBC Championship Thursday at 4 p.m. against the winner of Florida Atlantic and Western Kentucky.
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 broke a 55-game homerless streak with his two-run shot in the seventh inning ... The win marked the Jaguars' first SBC Tournament win since knocking off New Orleans 14-2 in 2008 ... USA improved to 26-22 all-time against FIU, and 6-3 against the Golden Panthers in the SBC Championship ... USA snapped a seven-game losing streak against FIU with Wednesday's win.
