MOBILE, Ala. | South Alabama and Texas State split a doubleheader to open their Sun Belt Conference series at Eddie Stanky Field after adjusting due to impending weather for the area over the weekend.
Texas State (20-11m 6-5 SBC) won the opener 8-4 behind a four-run seventh inning, all with two outs, before South Alabama (14-17, 4-8 SBC) answered with an 8-4 victory in the nightcap using a three-run sixth inning to gain separation,
Will Turner led South Alabama in game one at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 with a run scored, while
Colson Lawrence finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
Jeremy Lee (0-5), the first of four pitchers for the Jags, suffered the loss working 5.0 innings in the start and allowing just three runs (two earned) on two hits with a strikeout.
Jackson Boyd (1.2 IP / 4 R / 2 H),
Zach Harlan (0.1 IP / 2 H), and
Garfield Johns (2.0 IP / 2 H / 1 R) combined to pitch the final four innings.
In the nightcap,
JG Bell led the Jags at the plate going 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a pair of RBI, while
Tyler Borges finished 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI.
Cole Ketzner finished 2-for-3 with a run scored and RBI.
Matthew DeLano (2-0) came on in relief of starter
Sam Knowlton in the fourth and picked up the win working 3.2 innings. He allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits with a pair of strikeouts before giving way to
Eric Lin with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning who pitched the remaining 2.1 innings for the Jags.
How It Happened (Game 1)
- (T2) Texas State jumped on the board when Daylan Pena scored on an infield error, followed by a two-run single from Ryder Hernandez, Texas State 3-0.
- (B2) South Alabama answered with a double from Colson Lawrence that scored Joseph Sullivan, Texas State 3-1.
- (B6) Sullivan drove in Will Turner with an RBI groundout, Texas State 3-2.
- (T7) Hernandez singled to right before Davis Powell cleared the bases with a three-run double with two outs in the inning, Texas State 7-2.
- (B7) Erick Orbeta singled through the left side to score Lawrence before JG Bell grounded into a double play while a run came across, Texas State 7-4.
- (T9) August Ramirez lifted a sacrifice fly to left for the final run, Texas State 8-4.
How It Happened (Game 2)
- (B1) Turner started the scoring with a two-run home run to right, South Alabama 2-0.
- (B2) Cole Ketzner singled to left to score Lawrence, South Alabama 3-0.
- (T3) Jose Gonzalez put the Bobcats on the board with a sacrifice fly to left, South Alabama 3-1.
- (T4) Ryan Leary recorded an RBI groundout with one out in the inning, South Alabama 3-2.
- (B5) Tyler Borges lifted a two-run, two-run single to left to score Sullivan and Bell, South Alabama 5-2.
- (T6) Chase More hit a solo home run down the left field line, South Alabama 5-3.
- (B6) After the Jags pulled off a double steal, Bell ripped a double down the left field line that scored Ketzner and Orbeta before Turner grounded out to first to drive in Bell, South Alabama 8-3.
- (T7) Gonzalez reached on a fielding error allowing Powell to score from first, South Alabama 8-4.
Up Next
The two teams finish the series with a single game tomorrow afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 2 pm at Eddie Stanky Field.
Quotable, head coach Mark Calvi
General statement about today …
"We got off to a good start, we would have loved to have him (Sam) go five innings but coming off what he has come off and then coming off last week on short rest I think he got us off to a good start. And then
Will Turner's two-run home run was huge in the first. (Matthew) DeLano was really good tonight, he will keep you on the edge of your seat every now again, but he competes like crazy.
Eric Lin was really good and kept us from having to go to
Grant Wood late. I thought
Tyler Borges was big tonight and
JG Bell with the two RBI single, just a lot of guys heads up on the bases. We stole some bases, allowed us to get into scoring position, and then we got the hit. The difference between the two games, we had guys in position with two outs and didn't get that hit. Today we got a few more hits with runners in scoring position. Proud of our guys' effort."
Momentum swing off the pick off by DeLano …
"It was huge. He has one of the best right-handed pick off moves I have had in my career, and this is my 30th year. It is true, it's not a balk move, it is legit. He is a super athlete and is accurate with his throw, and then having a left-handed first baseman over there is easier. It makes the play a lot smoother to finish off. I thought he came in and was fantastic."
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Washing a loss away …
"We have to get over this quick and be ready to go win the series tomorrow. I know Texas State will be ready, it was a long day today but it's not like we are turning around and playing at 11. We have a little bit more time, our guys will be ready. We had to use our pitching a little bit, we had to go to the pen early, but we are going to run some guys out there and they just have to execute. We just have to hit and play great defense."
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