HARRISONBURG, Va. | Mitchell Heer paced South Alabama on the mound and the Jags collected three home runs on its way to a Sun Belt Conference series win with a 14-3 run-rule victory on Sunday afternoon at Eagle Field.
Heer (1-1) pitched a complete game for the Jags scattering five hits and allowing three runs (all earned). He also recorded three strikeouts in the win.
JG Bell, one of several Jags with multiple hits in the game, finished 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and an RBI, while
Hunter Donaldson was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored.
Colson Lawrence finished 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI and a pair of runs scored with a home run, while
Trey Lewis went 3-for-3 with three RBI and a pair of runs scored.
South Alabama used three home runs in the third to open the game up after a scoreless tie, the first time since 2013 that the Jags had three in one inning with the last coming against Louisiana on May 12, 2013. The Jags finished the weekend with 18 total extra-base hits (seven doubles, two triples, nine home runs) and finished the four-game road trip with 22 extra-base hits.
How It Happened
- (T3) After back-to-back one-out singles, Will Turner hit a three-run home run to right center field to break up a scoreless tie. Trey Lewis connected on a solo shot for another set of back-to-back home runs on the weekend. The Jags weren't finished in the inning as Colson Lawrence hit his team-leading ninth home run – the third of the inning – to extend the lead, South Alabama 6-0.
- (B3) Jason Schiavone hit a solo home run to left to put the Dukes on the board, South Alabama 6-1.
- (T4) Joseph Sullivan tripled to left center to clear the bases allowing Hunter Donaldson, Turner, and Lewis to score extending the Jags lead, South Alabama 9-1.
- (B4) Jaylon Lee lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Kyle Novak with two outs, South Alabama 9-2.
- (T5) The Jags used three consecutive bunts including a safety squeeze by Erick Orbeta to score Lawrence before JG Bell delivered an RBI single to score Donaldson. Lewis added two more RBI with a single through the left side to score two more runs, South Alabama 13-2.
- (B6) Fenwick Trimble homered to left to put the Dukes back on the board, South Alabama 13-3.
- (T7) Turner scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead, South Alabama 14-3.
Up Next
South Alabama returns home for a four-game home stand beginning on Tuesday night against Southern with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 pm.
Quotable, head coach Mark Calvi
Mitch did a heck of a job on the mound today …
"He did. I've said it now 28 times, the game starts and stops on the mound and defensively. The game started and stopped with Mitch, and this was the third game with no errors. I thought he was outstanding on the mound and our guys were able to get to their guy early and knock him out. We had several guys with multiple RBIs, couple of big home runs. The last couple of weeks we have seen the offensive start to heat up and guys starting to settle in a little bit. Mitch settled in today and we need four or four or five more guys to settle in on the mound."
Series win …
"After losing yesterday, any win with this team is a good thing. It so happens we were on the road, and it was conference, it is huge. I would rather win ugly than lose pretty, moral victories for me stopped in 2012 my first year here. This is about winning. There is nothing like winning. There are teaching moments in winning and losing, but there is nothing like winning."
Big week offensively, including Trey Lewis …
"He has been really comfortable at the plate and has been for the last couple of weeks. We have some guys who can hit on this team, and he is one of those. He played on opening night and then didn't play for a couple of weeks; you can tell who someone is when they are not playing. Everyone is good when they get their way, but you see who someone is when they aren't playing. We saw who
Trey Lewis, that kid – and we have some great kids on this team. You have guys who walk it, they talk it, great teammates. I couldn't be happier for Trey because he is that kid."
Follow the Jags
For complete coverage of University South Alabama baseball, follow the Jaguars on social media @SouthAlabamaBSB (Twitter), /SouthAlabamaAthletics (Facebook), @southalabamabsb on Instagram, or visit the official home of South Alabama athletics at USAJaguars.com.
