Box score


MOBILE, Ala.  – Jarron Cito pitched the first Jaguar complete game of the season to lead University of South Alabama baseball to an 8-2 series-clinching win over Florida International Sunday at Stanky Field.

Cito (6-3) allowed just two runs on eight hits and fanned six Panther batters without issuing a walk to earn his fourth win in as many starts.

“(Jarron) Cito was outstanding today,” USA head coach Mark Calvi said. “He pitched to contact and stayed out of the middle for the most part. They (FIU) hit some balls hard, but a lot of them were pushed to the right side of the field. That’s what happens when you’re throwing strikes – quality strikes out of the middle. He just battles for us. That’s what he’s done all year, and I couldn’t be happier for him.”

After surrendering a double to Martinez in the top of the second inning, Cito retired 11 consecutive batters before allowing a single to Aguirre in the top of the fifth. The right-hander retired seven of the final eight batters he faced in the game.

FIU left-hander R.J. Fondon (5-5) suffered the loss in 4 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs on 12 hits with three strikeouts and a walk.

South Alabama (18-26, 12-9 SBC) recorded 15 hits – its highest total of the series and the most since totaling 21 hits on April 15 at UALR. Every Jaguar had a hit in the game, and six Jags recorded multiple hits, led by Brad Hook who went 2-for-4 with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored. J.T. Files finished 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored, and Nolan Earley went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Hunt Griffith, Dustin Dalken, and Jordan Patterson also had two hits apiece.

USA pushed across the game’s first run in the bottom of the first when Patterson singled to third base and Zaharion, who doubled ahead of Patterson, scored on a throwing error by FIU third baseman Mike Martinez.

FIU (25-18, 11-10 SBC) tied the game in the top of the second when Martinez doubled to lead off the frame and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Adam Kirsch.

Dalken singled with one out in the bottom of the fourth, and scored when Hook doubled to the right-center gap to give the Jags a 2-1 lead. After Hook stole third, Files singled through the left side of the infield to increase the USA lead to 3-1. Earley followed with a single to left-center field to score Files from second and push the Jag lead to 4-1.

Julius Gaines cut the USA lead in half in the top of the fifth with a two-out RBI single to right field to score Oscar Aguirre, who singled earlier in the inning.

USA added three runs in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run double by Hook and RBI double by Files for a 7-2 lead, and added the game’s final run in the eighth inning on an FIU passed ball.

Martinez and Aramis Garcia had two hits apiece to lead FIU at the plate.

With the win, South Alabama moved into sole position of third place in the Sun Belt Conference standings. It marked the Jags’ fourth SBC series win of the season, and the first series win over FIU since 2007.

USA will return to action Tuesday when it hosts Southeastern Louisiana at 6:30 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).




NOTES:  South Alabama earned its first series win over FIU since 2007 … The Jags improved to 27-24 all-time against the Panthers … Campbell extended his hitting streak in SBC games to seven  … Campbell and Griffith extended their on-base streaks to 10 games each … Hook recorded his first stolen base of the season … Cito earned his fourth win in as many starts.