Box score

TUCSON, Ariz. – Right-handed pitcher Garrett Harris tossed a season-high eight innings, and allowed just two runs while scattering eight hits to lead University of South Alabama baseball to a 5-3 win over Minnesota Friday at Kino Sports Complex.

Harris (2-0) struck out a season-high seven batters without issuing a walk to earn his second win of the season, while allowing just two runs.

Jaguar right-hander Cory McGinnis came on in the ninth inning and did not surrender a hit, and allowed one unearned run while striking out one and issuing one walk to earn his second save of the season.

“Garrett (Harris) really gave us a chance to win because he was on top of his game,” South Alabama head coach Steve Kittrell said. “He did a tremendous job. He scattered his hits well, and minimized the damage. We had some timely hitting, but we’re still not where we need to be. We beat a team who was picked to win the Big 10 this season, and won the Big 10 last year and went to an NCAA Regional. It’s good to get a win, but we have a big challenge tomorrow with Oklahoma State.”

Harris did not surrender a hit until the the bottom of the third inning, and managed to avoid a big inning in the bottom of the fourth  after the first three Golden Gophers singled to reach base. Minnesota designated hitter provided the Gophers’ first run of the game when he singled to score O’Shea, who led off the inning with a single to center field. But Harris answered with a fly-ball out to right field and a strikeout to end the inning.

“Garrett (Harris) has four pitches, and he threw all of his pitches in all counts – he wasn’t predictable,” South Alabama associate head coach Mark Calvi said. “The good pitchers are predictably unpredictable, and that’s what he was. He had a good fastball today; he had good stuff. But he just pitched. He was in a jam there in the fourth inning, and only gave up one run like a veteran would do. He avoided a big inning, he was in damage control. They had five runners on base and only scored one run, and that was huge for us. We got a lot of momentum. But he pitched great today. He’s our number one, and hopefully we will get a good outing tomorrow. When you don’t walk people and force them to hit you, and can throw you offspeed in fastball counts, you’re going to have some success.”

“I felt good today,” Harris said. “Brent Tanner called a great game behind the plate, and he worked really well. We were really working together. I only shook him off two or three times, and that’s only because I had a feel for that pitch at that time. We played great all around, and it was a big win for us against a quality ballclub.”

Three Jaguars recorded multiple hits in the game, led by Brent Tanner who went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored. Brad Hook finished 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI, and Jake Overstreet went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Nolan Earley had a double and one RBI, and Jordan Patterson added a hit and two runs scored.

Minnesota right-hander T.J. Oakes (0-2) suffered the loss in 7 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits with five strikeouts.

Golden Gopher first baseman Nick O’Shea went 2-for-5 with a double, one RBI and a run scored to lead Minnesota at the plate. Left fielder Trip Schultz added two hits in the contest.

Timely hits in the top of the fourth gave South Alabama a 3-0 lead. Tanner singled to right-center field to score Patterson from second, after he led off the inning with a single through the right side of the infield. Earley followed with a double in the right-center gap to score Overstreet after he reached on a hit by pitch. Logan Kirkland then hit a line drive at O’Shea at first  base, who then threw to second to double off Earley. Hook followed with a two-out double in the right-center gap to push Tanner across for the inning’s final run.

O’Shea cut the Jaguar lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth when he doubled in the right-center gap to score Justin Gominsky, who singled earlier in the inning.

The Jags rallied with two outs in the top of the eighth inning and took a 4-2 lead on Tanner’s RBI single to right field. Tanner then got hung up between first and second base, but advanced to second on a throwing error by Minnesota first baseman O’Shea, which also allowed Overstreet to score from third and give USA a 5-2 lead.

“You never know how many runs you are going to need in a game,” Kittrell said. “I thought we settled down after the first inning and made some nice plays. We’re still making too many errors and making too many mistakes on the bases, but we are finding ways to win for the most part. We just have to settle down and start playing good, fundamental baseball.

The Golden Gophers added a run in the top of the ninth inning before McGinnis forced a ground out to third base to end the game.

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:  Harris set season highs in innings pitched (8) and strikeouts (7) … Tanner extended his hitting streak to seven games … Patterson extended his hitting streak to six games … Earley hit his team-leading fifth double of the season ... Kirkland finished 0-for-4, snapping his eight-game hit streak … Overstreet made his 162nd consecutive start at third base and recorded his fourth multiple-hit game of the season.