MOBILE, Ala - Florida Atlantic right-hander Ryan Garton pitched six consecutive scoreless innings to lead the Owls to a 7-2 win over University of South Alabama baseball Friday night at Stanky Field.

Garton (6-1) allowed just two runs on five hits in seven innings while striking out three and walking one to earn the win, and retired 16 of the first 17 batters he faced in the game. He held the Jags hitless for 3.1 innings, until USA second baseman Zach Grichor singled to center field in the top of the fourth inning.

Jaguar right-hander D.D. Hanks (9-3) took the loss in five innings, allowing five runs on nine hits while striking out two and issuing three walks.

Clint Reynolds went 2-for-4 to lead USA at the plate. Brent Tanner added a double and one RBI, and Adam Heisler added a hit and an RBI.

FAU shortstop Nick Delguidice went 3-for-5 with an RBI and one run scored to lead the Owls at the plate. Dan Scheffler went 3-for-5 with a run scored, and Colby Gratton went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base.

Florida Atlantic (30-16, 18-7 SBC) opened up a 4-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning, aided by a three-run double to right field by Mee. The Owls loaded the bases, and scored the game's first run on a fielder's choice off the bat of Raymond Church before Mee's double that scored Gratton, Church and Mike Albaladejo.

The Owls increased their lead to 5-0 in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI single by Anthony Mesa to score Sean Bukovich, who reached on a walk earlier in the inning.

FAU added two runs in the top of the sixth inning to extend its lead to 7-0 on a wild pitch by Jake LeBlanc that scored Albaladejo, and an RBI single to left by Delguidice to score Scheffler.

USA cut the FAU lead to 7-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning when Laird singled to left field to score Tanner, who doubled to lead off the inning.

The Jags followed with a run in the bottom of the eighth inning to cut the FAU lead to 7-2 on an RBI single by Heisler to score pinch-runner Dominic Diaz, who entered for Tyler Vick after he singled to center field to lead off the inning.

USA (28-19, 15-7 SBC) returns to action Saturday for game two against FAU 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:  Heisler extended his on-base streak to 27 games, and extended his hit streak to nine games ... Heisler has now hit safely in 19 of his last 20 games ... Tanner has reached base safely in 30 of his last 31 games ... USA fell to 3-7 all-time against FAU, and 1-3 all-time against the Owls at Stanky Field.