MOBILE, Ala - Florida Atlantic scored six unanswered runs in the final two innings to defeat University of South Alabama baseball 6-3 Sunday afternoon at Stanky Field.

Trailing 3-0 going into the top of the eighth inning, FAU scored five runs on six hits with Andy Mee and Dan Scheffler delivering back-to-back home runs in the inning. Mee hit a three-run home run to left field to give the Owls a 4-3 lead, before Scheffler hit a solo home run to right field to increase the lead to 5-3.

Florida Atlantic (31-17, 19-8 SBC) added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning on an RBI single to left field by Scheffler.

USA right-hander Garrett Harris pitched seven consecutive scoreless innings, and scattered eight hits in seven innings while striking out seven without issuing a walk before being lifted in the eighth. Harris allowed just two earned runs without factoring in the decision.

FAU right-hander Hugh Adams (3-0) earned the win in 1.2 scoreless innings pitched, allowing just one hit while striking out one. Mee earned the save in one inning, and allowed just one hit.

Jaguar right-hander D.D. Hanks (9-4) suffered the loss, allowing two runs on two hits in 0.0 innings.

Mee went 5-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and a run scored to lead the Owls at the plate. Scheffler went 3-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and a run scored.

USA center fielder Taylor White went 4-for-4 with an RBI and one run scored to lead the Jaguars at the plate. Clint Reynolds went 3-for-3 with a run scored, and Zach Grichor added two hits and an RBI.

USA jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Grichor singled through the right side of the infield to score Sean Laird, who reached on a

USA scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 3-0 lead. The Jags loaded the bases on singles by Reynolds and Overstreet, and a fielder's choice by Tanner. White followed with an RBI single to center field to score Reynolds, who singled to center field to lead off the inning. Overstreet  scored the second run of the inning on Tyler Vick's sacrifice fly to right field, after reaching on a single to left field earlier in the frame.

FAU pitchers held the Jags scoreless from that point on, and allowed just two USA runners to reach third base for the remainder of the game. South Alabama stranded 10 runners in the game.

"Garrett [Harris]  pitched his heart out, and just pitched a great game," USA head coach Steve Kittrell said. "That's a tough one to swallow, because there was so much at stake, but I was proud of our guys' effort. They played hard, but you have to tip your cap to FAU. They didn't quit, and hung in there and put up a big five-run inning."

USA (29-20, 16-8 SBC) returns to action Tuesday for its final midweek contest of the season, when it hosts No. 19 Auburn Tuesday at 5:30 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 29 games when he reached on a hit by pitch in the sixth inning ... Heisler's hit streak ended at 10 games ... Tanner has reached base safely in 32 of his last 33 games after reaching on a fielder's choice in the third inning ... USA fell to 4-8 all-time against FAU, and 2-4 all-time against the Owls at Stanky Field ... The series marked the first SBC series the Jags have dropped at Stanky Field this season.