Box score

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama baseball team committed a season-high five errors that led to five unearned runs as the Jaguars fell to Florida Atlantic 7-3 Saturday afternoon at Stanky Field.

South Alabama (15-15, 5-6 SBC) battled back from a three-run deficit to cut the FAU lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning on an RBI double by Jake Overstreet and sacrifice fly by Brent Tanner.

But in the top of the seventh inning, Florida Atlantic scored two runs after Jaguar right fielder Nolan Earley mishandled a fly ball that extended the inning. The Owls scored one run on the play, and added a second run in the frame later in the inning when second baseman Trey Sorrells’ throw to home plate sailed over Tanner to allow Nathan Pittman to score from third base and extend the FAU lead to 5-2.

The Jaguars cut the Owls’ lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh when Taylor White doubled to center field to score Logan Kirkland after he reached on an error ahead of White.

But FAU added a run in the eighth on an error by Kirkland that allowed Raymond Church to score, and added the game’s final run in the top of the ninth inning on Andy Mee’s sacrifice fly to center field.

FAU right-hander Paul Davis (6-1) earned the win in seven innings pitched, and allowed three runs on eight hits while striking out five and walking two. Josh Gonzaga pitched two scoreless innings in relief to earn his second save of the season.

Dustin Crenshaw (5-1) suffered his first loss of the season for the Jaguars in seven innings, and allowed just one earned run on seven hits with two strikeouts and two walks.

Three Jaguars recorded multiple hits in the game, led by White who went 2-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored. Kirkland finished 2-for-5 with a run scored, and Earley went 2-for-2 with a walk.

Pittman went 2-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored to lead the Owls at the plate. Alex Hudak went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

FAU (18-13, 6-5 SBC) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Nick Delguidice singled home Hudak, who led off the inning with a double to left field.

The Owls increased their lead to 3-0 on a two-run throwing error by Kirkland in the top of the fourth inning. With runners at second and third, Crenshaw got Nelson to ground to shortstop but Kirkland’s throw to Brad Hook at first base sailed high, allowing both runners who reached on walks earlier in the inning to score.

South Alabama loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning on a single by Kirkland, base on balls by Jake Overstreet and hit by pitch by Earley. But Davis struck out Tanner and induced an inning-ending popup to shortstop off the bat of Jordan Patterson to get out of the jam without allowing a run to cross.

South Alabama cut the FAU lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning when White doubled to right field to lead off the inning and later scored on Overstreet’s double down the left field line. The Jags cut the deficit to 3-2 later in the inning when Overstreet scored on Tanner’s sacrifice fly to right field.

“It’s a disappointing loss; we made way too many mistakes today to win,” South Alabama head coach Steve Kittrell said. “Dustin [Crenshaw] threw well. He made a couple of 0-2 mistakes, which isn’t like him but on one of them we dropped the ball in right field. It seemed like every mistake cost us, so that’s disappointing. There’s really no excuse for our defense today – we must play better than that. But we have to have a sense of urgency to win this series tomorrow.”

The series will conclude with the rubber match at 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon at Stanky Field.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.co
m.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).


NOTES:  Kirkland extended his hitting steak to 15 games, and has hit safely in 26 of 29 games this season … White and Earley each recorded their 11th multiple hit game of the season … South Alabama committed a season-high five errors in the game … With the loss, the Jaguars fell 5-10 all-time against FAU and 3-5 against the Owls at Stanky Field.