MONROE, La. | South Alabama used a pair of home runs and a strong outing from
Mitchell Heer on the mound to even the series with ULM 9-6 at Lou St. Amant Field on Saturday afternoon.
South Alabama (16-18, 6-8 Sun Belt) was held to just eight hits by four different pitchers. The Jags were led by
Austin Thrasher who finished 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBI, and a pair of runs scored; while
Erick Orbeta finished 2-for-6 with a run scored.
Heer (2-1) got the start and went 5.2 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts before giving way to
Eric Lin. Lin was lifted for
Grant Wood in the seventh who recorded a three-inning save for the Jags, his fourth of the season.
How It Happened
- (B1) Jake Haggard lifted a sacrifice fly to right to score Kade Dupont, ULM 1-0.
- (T3) Tyler Borges recorded a sacrifice fly to left to score Austin Thrasher to tie the game, 1-1.
- (T4) Austin Thrasher connected with a one-out three-run home run down the left field line to give the Jags their first lead, South Alabama 4-1.
- (T6) JG Bell hit a two-run home run to left with one out in the inning to score Erick Orbeta to extend the lead before Joseph Sullivan recorded an RBI groundout to score Will Turner after a pair of Warhawk errors, South Alabama 7-1.
- (B6) Riley Davis hit his fifth home run of the season down the left field line before Carson Jones singled to right to drive in another, South Alabama 7-3.
- (T8) Turner and Sullivan came around to score on a two-base error in left off the bat of Micah Morgan, South Alabama 9-3.
- (B9) Zack Floyd hit a solo shot to left for the Warhawks to lead off the inning before Shawn Weatherbee hit a two-run shot over the scoreboard in left center, South Alabama 9-6.
Up Next
South Alabama and ULM meet in the final game of the series on Sunday afternoon at Lou St. Amant Field with first pitch scheduled for 1 pm.
Quotable, head coach Mark Calvi
Another good outing for Mitch …
"I thought Mitch was really, really solid today. No doubt, after giving up a run in the first he really settled in and mixed his pitches well. He located his fastball, pitched in just enough, and mixed in his change-up, especially against Thibodeaux who hurt us last night. I thought he put us on his back until we could get going against their guy who was up to 93 with two different arm angles. He had good stuff, our guys had some really good at-bats. Thrasher had the big day with a home run and led off the inning where he scored, he was outstanding today."
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You were able to flip the lineup over today at nine and one …
"That's been a big deal, we have some good hitters at the top. Being a good offense is having men on for your leadoff guy to drive in, not just be the table setter. We haven't had enough guys on at the bottom part of the order for an Orbeta and Bell to drive in. Those guys have been getting on for the Turners and Lewis' and Sullivans of the world. It was good to see those guys today be the spark plug. There was extra pressure down at the bottom – seven through nine – that made a difference. Thrasher extended our lineup today, and I thought Ketzner's hit – that 10-12 pitch at-bat – I thought that was one of the turning points of the game, and he caught a heck of a game today."
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Another chance to win a series on the road on a Sunday …
"I hate that we had to throw Wood 48 pitches, but we have a rested
Colson Lawrence – a very good
Colson Lawrence. Hopefully Jeremy can put us on back and get us into deep waters tomorrow."
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