04/29/06–
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JAGS
WIN TENTH STRAIGHT WITH 13-9 DECISION OVER WESTERN KENTUCKY SATURDAY
CONTACT:
Kevin Sytko
Box
Score
BOWLING
GREEN, Ky. - South Alabama scored in six different innings
and held off a late inning charge from the Hilltoppers to take game
two of a three-game Sun Belt series 13-9, against Western Kentucky,
at Nick Denes Field in Bowling Green, Ky., Saturday afternoon.
Zach Piccola
picked up the win for the Jags, improving his record to 4-3. USA
improves to 32-15 on the season and 12-5 in SBC play. Western Kentucky
drops to 18-20 and 3-11 in the conference play.
David Doss led
the way for USA, collecting four hits including two doubles and
three RBI’s. Doss extended his hitting streak to nine games
in which he is batting .512, with five doubles, four homeruns and
16 RBIs.
“It was
big win, Zach Piccola was dominant on the mound,” said Jaguar
head coach Steve Kittrell. “Other than the walks he was in
control of that game. The offense scored in six different innings.
It was a good offensive showing.”
The Hilltoppers
took the lead in the first inning, taking advantage of some early
control problems from Piccola. With two out, Piccola gave up back-to-back
walks to Scotty Colt and Jordan Newton. Casey Hamilton then delivered
a two-out RBI single to left field to give WKU an early 1-0 lead.
The Jags answered
the WKU run with one in the second. Guillermo Martinez was hit by
a pitch with one out. Joel Collins then reached on an error by shortstop
Dennis Winn. Ben Daw then doubled down the left field line. The
single run tied the game at one.
USA pulled ahead
in the top of the third when it scored another single run. Jeff
Cunningham singled to open the inning. Doss then followed with a
single to left field that got by left fielder Eric Scriven. The
ball went all the way to the wall scoring Cunningham and giving
the Jags a 2-1 lead.
South Alabama
added five runs in the top of the fourth inning. Daw led off with
a base hit through the left side. Jones then walked for the third
time in the game. Weaver reached on an infield single which loaded
the bases with nobody out. After Freese struck out, Cunningham lashed
a two-RBI single to right field to put the Jags up 4-1. Doss then
ripped a double down the right field line scoring the fifth USA
run to make it 5-1. Aaron George then greeted WKU reliever Ben Paxton
with a single up the middle, scoring Doss and Cunningham for a 7-1
lead.
The Hilltoppers
took advantage of two Jag miscues in the fourth. First, Piccola
walked Newton to open the inning. The Jag middle infield then blew
a chance at a double play when Daw’s throw to first pulled
Cunningham off the bag. Although there were no errors the Jag defense
failed to execute. The next batter, Winn doubled into the gap in
left center field, which scored Hamilton. Jack Ambrose then grounded
out which scored the third WKU. If the Jag defense would have executed,
Piccola would have been out of the jam.
USA got two
runs back in the top of the fifth inning. WKU hit three batters
in the inning and also balked twice. Doss was plunked with the bases
loaded to force across the eighth run and while George was batting,
Bryan Rider balked in Freese, to make the score 9-3.
South Alabama
scored its 10th run of the game in the seventh inning on back-to-back
doubles by Weaver and Freese. It was Weaver’s third run scored
of the game and for Freese it extended his hitting streak to 19
games. Doss then followed with his second RBI double of the game.
This double went down the left field line to make the score 11-3.
Martinez then ripped his first hit of the series, an RBI single
through the left side, to plate Doss and make it 12-3.
The Toppers
scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning when Doss ran
into control problems in relief of Piccola. After Scriven flew out,
Doss walked Nickerson and Ransdell. Cortez Armstrong singled to
left field to load the bases. Colt unloaded the bases with a three-run
triple to center field, making the score 12-6. Newton picked up
a one out RBI ground out to Freese at third base to make the score
12-7. Doss got out of the inning by fanning Dennis Winn.
Western made
it very interesting when it scored two runs in the bottom of the
eighth off of USA reliever Chase Christianson. Ambrose led off with
a single which was followed by a strikeout and a fly out. With two
out, WKU picked up three straight hits, including an RBI double
by Colt to cut the Jag lead to 12-9. Christianson got out of the
inning when he got Newton to pop up to center field to end the inning.
Christianson
pitched a scoreless ninth inning to preserve the victory for USA.
The Jag winning streak is now at 10 games.
The Jags look
for the sweep of the Hilltoppers Sunday afternoon as they send Joey
Doan to the mound. The game can be heard on the Sports Station WNSP
105.5. Live Stats can be accessed at www.usajaguars.com.
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