Box score

MOBILE, Ala. – Columbia scored four unearned runs in the final two innings to knock off University of South Alabama baseball 5-2 Sunday afternoon at Stanky Field.

South Alabama had three wild pitches, three passed balls and committed one error in the final two frames.

“We played some bad baseball,” South Alabama head coach Steve Kittrell said. “I give Columbia a lot of credit. They put the ball in play and executed; they pitched well and played good defense. But we played poorly at the end of the game, and we can’t do that and expect to beat a good ball club.

“Brad [Hook] pitched another great game. We aren’t scoring any runs for him. But it seemed like everything that could go wrong in the last couple of innings went wrong. That was a tough loss today, because we kind of gave it away at the end. Defensively, we dropped the ball at the end of the game.”

Jaguar left-hander Brad Hook held the Lions scoreless for 7 2/3 innings, before giving way to right-hander Kyle Dees in the top of the eighth inning. Nick Cox then doubled down the right field line to score Jon Eisen, who reached on a fielder’s choice earlier in the inning and advanced to second on a passed ball before Cox’s double tied the game 1-1. Cox then scored on a wild pitch from second base after the ball shot away from Jaguar catcher Brent Mitchell toward the first-base dugout, giving the Lions a 2-1 lead. Alexander Aurrichio reached base on Jerry Roam’s error at second base. Aurrichio was then lifted for pinch-runner Nick Crucet, who advanced to second on a wild pitch and later scored on Nick Ferraresi’s single to left-center field to give Columbia a 3-1 lead after 7 1/2 innings.

USA cut the Columbia lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning when Nolan Earley reached base on a hit by pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Jordan Patterson who reached on a fielder’s choice earlier in the inning.

But the Lions added to their lead in the top of the ninth with two runs on two hits to take a 5-2 lead. Alex Godshall led off the inning with a single, advanced to second on a passed ball and would later score on a wild pitch for the Lions’ first run in the frame. Billy Rumpke reached on a walk, advanced to second on a passed ball and then scored when Cox singled down the left field line to extend the Columbia lead.

South Alabama broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth inning when Roam doubled down the right field line to score Hook, who doubled ahead of Roam with two outs.

Dees (3-1) suffered the loss in 0.0 innings pitched, allowing one run on one hit. Hook tossed a career-high 7 2/3 innings and allowed just one unearned run on seven hits while striking out a career-high four batters without factoring in the decision.

Columbia right-hander Dan Bracey (2-0) earned the win in seven innings pitched, and allowed one run on six hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Tim Giel earned the save, his first of the season, in two innings and allowed one run on two hits while striking out two.

Brent Tanner went 3-for-3 with a double to lead South Alabama at the plate. Mitchell, Hook, Roam and Jordan Patterson each had one double apiece.

Cox finished 4-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored to lead the Lions at the plate. Godshall went 3-for-4 with a run scored, and Mike Fischer finished 2-for-4 in the game.

Columbia improved to 3-3 with the win, while South Alabama fell to 9-5.

The series will conclude with game four Monday at 1 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:  South Alabama fell to 2-1 all-time against Columbia, and suffered the first loss in the program’s history to an Ivy League opponent … Hook tossed a career-high 7 2/3 innings and struck out a career-high four batters … Tanner recorded his team-leading seventh multiple-hit game of the season … Overstreet made his 167th consecutive start at third base.