04/28/06–
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GEORGE
AND WALTERS LEAD USA TO ITS NINTH STRAIGHT WITH 7-2 WIN OVER WKU
CONTACT:
Kevin Sytko
Box
Score
BOWLING
GREEN, Ky. - Aaron George drove in four runs and P.J. Walters
threw a complete game, as the Jags won their ninth consecutive game
with a 7-2 win over Western Kentucky at Nick Denes Field in Bowling
Green, Ky., Friday night.
George picked
up a two-RBI single in the fourth inning and launched a long two-run
homerun to left field in the sixth. Walters picked up the win improving
to 7-2. The Jags improved to 31-15 and 11-5 in Sun Belt play.
David Freese
(16), Patrick Weaver (12), Joel Collins (9), Tyler Jones and David
Doss (7), each had hits to extend their hitting streaks. Freese
collected two hits and improves his average to .458. The Jags used
two three-run innings to get by the Toppers.
Walters cruised
to his seventh win of the season throwing a complete game, fanning
12 Hilltoppers, only allowing one earned run. For Walters it was
his 27th career win which puts him in a tie for third All-Time on
USA’s career win list.
“P.J.
was outstanding, he was on top of his game,” said Jaguar head
coach Steve Kittrell. “I thought the guys swung the bat well
in crucial times, we had two three run innings. Aaron George had
a big two-run single and a two-run homerun. It was a big night for
our team. Tyler Jones and Patrick Weaver were hot tonight. When
we can get those guys on, it puts runners on for Freese and Cunningham.”
Western Kentucky
drew first blood in the bottom of the second inning. Jordan Newton
opened the scoring with a solo homerun down the left field line.
Newton’s homerun was his 11th on the season.
South Alabama
took the lead with a three runs in the top of the fourth inning.
Jones led off with a rocket double down the left field line. Weaver
dropped a bunt single which moved Jones to third. WKU starter Liam
Shanahan fielded the bunt and fired high. The error allowed Jones
to score making the score 1-1. Freese then followed with a line
drive base hit to right center. After a strikeout by Jeff Cunningham
and a groundout by Doss, which moved the runners into scoring position,
George singled through the right side to plate both runners and
give the Jags a 3-1 lead.
The Jags added
one run in the top of the sixth inning. Weaver led off with a solid
single to left field. Freese followed with a rocket single to right
center. After Cunningham flew out to center, Doss hammered a double
off of the right field wall. Weaver scored easily, but Freese was
gunned down at home, on a prefect relay from right field to second
baseman Matt Ransdell to Jordan Newton for the putout. George didn’t
let the Jag momentum stop their, as he ripped his fourth homerun
of the season over the bullpen in left field, put USA up 6-1.
South Alabama
plated its seventh run in the top of the seventh. Joel Collins continued
to rip the baseball by leading off the inning with a missile double
off the center field wall. Ben Daw then sacrificed him to third
with a bunt and Jones lined a sacrifice fly to center field.
Walters ran
into a little bit of trouble in the bottom of the seventh inning
when Dennis Winn reached on an error by Guillermo Martinez. Jack
Ambrose then lined a single down the right field line to put runners
on the corners with nobody out. Walters then forced an RBI groundout
from Eric Scriven and fanned Andrew Nickerson and Ransdell to end
the inning, allowing just one run. The Jag lead at the end of the
seventh stood at 7-2.
Walters threw
a scoreless ninth inning to collect the win.
Zach Piccola
will take the hill Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. as USA looks to
extend its winning streak to 10 games. The game can be heard on
the radio on WNSP 105.5 FM. Live stats can be accessed at www.usajaguars.com.
|
