Box score


BOCA RATON, Fla.  – No. 30 Florida Atlantic pounded out 16 hits en route to a 10-7 series-clinching win over University of South Alabama baseball Saturday at FAU Baseball Stadium.

FAU (22-10, 10-1 SBC) trailed 5-4 through 4 1/2 innings before plating two runs in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out, two-run  home run by Dylan Seigel to take a 6-5 lead.

The Owls added three runs in the bottom of the sixth to increase their lead to 9-5 on an RBI double by Alex Hudak and two-run single by Seigel.

South Alabama (11-20, 6-5 SBC) closed the gap to two runs in the top of the eighth when Brad Hook scored on a wild pitch, and Drew Cofield delivered a pinch-hit RBI double to the right-center gap to cut the FAU lead to 9-7.

FAU added the final run of the game in the bottom-half of the eighth when Kyle Newton tripled to center field and scored on an RBI single by Mark Nelson.

Bo Logan (2-2) earned the win in 2 2/3 innings pitched, allowing two runs on one hit with three strikeouts and a walk. Ahmed Garcia tossed 1 2/3 shutout innings in relief, and allowed two hits to earn his second save of the year.

Jaguar right-hander Jaime Dennis (1-4) suffered the loss in 1 2/3 relief innings, allowing four runs on six hits with one walk.

Seigel went 4-for-4 with a homer, four RBI and a run scored to lead the Owls at the plate. Nick Zaharion went 2-for-5 with a triple, one RBI and two runs scored, and Hook finished 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored to lead USA offensively. Brent Mitchell added two hits and one run scored.

South Alabama jumped out to a 4-0 lead after 2 1/2 innings. Zaharion led off the top of the second with a triple to center field, and scored one pitch later on an RBI single to left field by Whitt Dorsey.

The Jags doubled their lead later in the top of the third inning when Robby Campbell led off the frame with a single up the middle, and scored on an RBI double to left center by Nolan Earley. Later in the frame, Earley scored when Zaharion reached on an error to give USA a 3-0 lead. After Dorsey reached on a hit by pitch, Hook singled to right field to plate Zaharion and increase the Jaguar lead to 4-0.

FAU cut the USA lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the third on an RBI single by Mike Albaladejo, and Nathan Pittman drove in the Owls’ second run of the inning on a fielder’s choice.

The Owls tied the game 4-4 in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by Geoff Jimenez and RBI double by Mitch Morales. But USA answered to take a 5-4 lead on an RBI groundout by Zaharion that scored Mitchell, who led off the top of the fifth with a single to left field.

Seigel’s two-run homer in the fifth inning gave FAU a lead it did not surrender from that point on.

The series will conclude with game three Sunday at noon (CT).

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).