Box score


BOCA RATON, Fla.  – University of South Alabama baseball pounded out 14 hits and used a three-run sixth inning to defeat No. 30 Florida Atlantic 7-4 Sunday afternoon at FAU Baseball Stadium.

South Alabama (12-20, 7-5 SBC) trailed by a run after four innings before it tied the game in the top of the fifth. Following a Drew Cofield single, Brad Hook singled to center field but FAU center fielder Geoff Jimenez misplayed the ball which allowed Cofield to score from first and tie the game 3-3.

Jarron Cito (3-3) retired FAU in order in the bottom-half of the fifth before the Jags posted three runs in the top of the sixth for a 6-3 lead. Hunt Griffith and J.T. Files reached on consecutive one-out singles, and Graham Odom followed with an RBI single to left field to score Griffith and give USA a 4-3 lead. Colin Bray drove in the Jags’ fifth run of the game on USA’s fourth consecutive single that scored Files. Cofield then doubled the Jaguar lead with a sacrifice fly to center field to push the score to 6-3.

FAU second baseman Ricky Santiago cut the USA lead to 6-4 with a solo home run to left-center field in the bottom of the sixth.

The Jags added the game’s final run in the top of the eighth on an RBI single by Cofield that scored Odom, who reached on a single earlier in the inning.

Cito earned his third win of the season in seven innings, allowing four runs on six hits with four strikeouts and three walks. Kyle Bartsch tossed two shutout innings, and allowed three hits with a strikeout and a walk to earn his fifth save of the season.

Cofield finished 3-for-4 with a double, three RBI and a run scored to lead the Jaguars at the plate. Bray finished 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, and Odom went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Files finished with a hit, one RBI and a run scored.

The Owls took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Mark Nelson, but South Alabama tied the game in the top of the third when Bray reached on a two-out single and scored when Cofield doubled to the left-center gap.

FAU (22-11, 10-2 SBC) loaded the bases in the bottom of the third on a walk by Mike Albaladejo, and consecutive singles by Nathan Pittman and Corey Keller. But Cito induced an inning-ending double play to shortstop off the bat of Nelson to escape the jam.

USA then loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fourth on a single by Hook, fielder’s choice by Taylor Nichols and walk by Griffith. Files followed with a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Hook and gave the Jags a 2-1 lead.

FAU took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth on a two-out, two-run triple by Mitch Morales that scored Santiago and Jimenez, who both reached on walks.

“(Jarron) Cito was solid today aside from the back-to-back walks where he gave up two (runs) on the triple,” USA head coach Mark Calvi said. “That’s the way we have been letting games slip away from us this year. But he did a good job; he went seven innings and (Kyle) Bartsch was good in the eighth and ninth. Our guys hung tough. We executed some hit-and-runs, some guys got some hits when we needed them and we played pretty good defense. It was good to get a win.

“We got some guys on base and we got into some fastball counts. We can put pressure on somebody with our offense, if the opposition isn’t getting ahead in the count. It’s big and I give our guys credit. Our guys had as much life today that they had yesterday and Friday. It was good to see these guys keep fighting, and we need to continue to do so.”

Santiago went 2-for-3 with a homer, one RBI and two runs scored to lead FAU offensively.

Julian Loret de Mol (0-2) took the loss in 1/3 of an inning, allowing three runs on three hits with one strikeout.

South Alabama will return to action Tuesday when it travels to Starkville, Miss., for a midweek contest with Mississippi State.

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:  Bray recorded a career-high three hits … Files recorded his first career hit at South Alabama … Cofield matched a career high with three RBI … Hook recorded a season-high three hits … South Alabama improved to 5-13 all-time against Florida Atlantic with Sunday’s win.