Box score
MOBILE, Ala. – Florida Atlantic used a six-run second inning and added multiple runs in the fourth, seventh and eighth innings to defeat University of South Alabama baseball 12-10 Sunday afternoon at Stanky Field.
FAU (19-13, 7-5 SBC) took a 6-0 lead in the top of the second inning with the big blast coming in the form of a three-run homer off the bat of Colby Gratton. The Owls added three runs earlier in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Sean Bukovich and RBI singles by Mike Albaladejo and Andy Mee.
Florida Atlantic added two runs in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI single by Mee and sacrifice fly off the bat of Gratton to extend its lead to 8-0.
South Alabama (15-16, 5-7 SBC) answered in the bottom of the fourth when Brent Tanner delivered a three-run home run over the right-center field wall off of R.J. Alvarez. Jake Overstreet and Nolan Earley scored on the homer after reaching on a fielder’s choice and hit by pitch, respectively.
Tanner cut the FAU lead to 8-6 in the bottom of the fifth when he homered over the right-center field wall for the second time in as many innings.
Gratton answered with his second home run of the game in the top of the seventh, a solo shot over the left field wall, to extend the FAU lead to 9-6. The Owls added a second run of the inning on a Cory McGinnis balk to take a 10-6 lead.
The Jaguars cut the deficit to one run in the bottom of the seventh inning on an RBI double by Earley to score Overstreet, who doubled earlier in the inning, and a two-run double down the left field line by Sorrells.
But Mee answered in the top half of the eighth inning with a triple to right field that scored Bukovich, who walked to lead off the inning, to extend the FAU lead to 11-9. Gratton followed with an RBI single to center field to plate Mee and increase the Owls’ lead to 12-9.
South Alabama added the game’s final run in the bottom of the ninth inning on Brad Hook’s RBI double to right field.
Alvarez (4-2) earned the win in five innings pitched for the Owls, allowing six runs on seven hits while striking out three and issuing one walk. Hugh Adams pitched two innings and allowed one run on three hits with a strikeout and a walk to earn his third save of the season.
Hook (1-3) suffered the loss in 1 2/3 innings, and allowed six runs on five hits while issuing one base on balls.
Gratton went 3-for-5 with two home runs, six RBI and two runs scored to lead the Owls at the plate. Mee finished 3-for-6 with a triple, three RBI and two runs scored. Alex Hudak went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, and Albaladejo added two hits, two runs and an RBI.
Tanner went 3-for-6 with two home runs, a career-high six RBI and two runs scored to lead South Alabama at the plate. Sorrells went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI. Jordan Patterson finished 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored, and Taylor White added two hits.
Florida Atlantic (19-13, 7-5 SBC) clinched the series with Sunday’s win, and extended its all-time series lead over the Jaguars to 11-5.
“We got off to a horrible start,” South Alabama head coach Steve Kittrell said. “But the kids kept battling and didn’t quit, and we played better defense today. We faced a very good pitcher, and we got into contention where we could have won it. Everytime we came back, they [FAU] came back and added to the lead which is the sign of a good team on their end. Carlton Paris threw well and gave us a chance to battle back. [Brent] Tanner had a sensational day, and I thought he had a great weekend behind the plate.”
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: Kirkland extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a single in the fifth inning … Tanner recorded his second multiple-home run game in as many weeks, and drove in a career-high six runs … White recorded his 12th multiple-hit game of the season and extended his hitting streak to seven games, while Patterson recorded his sixth multiple-hit game of the season … Sorrells recorded his fifth multiple-hit game and fourth multiple-RBI game of the season … With the loss, the Jaguars fell to 5-11 all-time against FAU and 3-6 against the Owls at Stanky Field.
