02/17/06–
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JAGS FALL TO STETSON 5-3 ON DAY ONE OF COCA-COLA
CLASSIC
Box
Score
CONTACT:
Kevin Sytko
MOBILE,
Ala. - South Alabama banged out 11 hits but was unable
to put together a big inning, as they fell to Stetson by a score
of 5-3 in game two of the 2006 Coca-Cola Classic at Stanky Field
Friday night. South Alabama falls to 4-3 on the season.
The Hatters
got on the board first in the top of the third inning. USA starter
P.J. Walters gave up three consecutive two-out singles to Stetson
leadoff hitter Shane Jordan, Brandon Paritz and Brian Bocock. Jordan
came in on Bocock’s single to center field giving the Hatters
an early 1-0 lead.
Stetson padded
its lead in the top of the fourth inning, when Adam Tindle reached
on an infield single. Nick Palmisano then walked to put runners
on first and second with nobody out. Brian Pruitt then dropped a
bunt single, loading the bases. Braedyn Pruitt then lifted a sacrifice
fly to center field. Walters got out of the inning when he forced
David Golliner to ground into a double play limiting the damage
to just one run.
South Alabama
third baseman David Freese cut into the Hatter lead in the bottom
of the fourth inning, when he launched his second home run of the
season. Freese’s solo home run to left field also extended
his hitting streak to 13 games. At the end of the fourth, South
Alabama trailed by a score of 2-1.
The Jags took
the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Bill Kleinschrodt led off
with a single to left field. Joel Collins sacrificed him to second
and Ben Daw drove him home, with a rocket single to right center
field. Patrick Weaver then laced a triple to left center field scoring
Daw and giving USA its first lead of the game at 3-2. For Weaver
it was his second triple of the season.
Stetson took
the lead back in the top of the eighth inning. Chris Johnson singled
to center field to open the inning which was followed by two walks.
South Alabama pitching coach Ronnie Powell then went to freshman
David Doss. Doss got Brian Pruitt to strike out for the second out
of the inning. Golliner picked up his first hit of the season when
he launched a long bases clearing double to center field, plating
three and making the score 5-3.
In the bottom
of the eighth inning Stetson went to closer Robbie Elsemiller. The
Jags hit three balls hard including Freese’s second hit of
the day, but were unable to get a rally going. Elsemiller struck
out Collins to preserve the Stetson lead and hand the Jags their
third loss of the season.
“Stetson
came out and played well, they made some nice plays defensively,”
said South Alabama head coach Steve Kittrell. “We haven’t
learned how to win the close games yet. It’s early in the
year and we will find out a lot about them tomorrow and Sunday.
Walters went
seven and a third innings striking out nine, while giving up five
earned runs. He falls to 1-1 on the season and 21-11 in his career.
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