05/07/06–
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JAGS WIN SERIES WITH 8-7 EXTRA-INNING WIN OVER
UNO
CONTACT:
Kevin Sytko
Box
Score
NEW
ORLEANS
- The University
of South Alabama went to New Orleans knowing that it had to win
the series to stay alive in the Sun Belt race. USA took advantage
of seven UNO errors, plating six unearned runs, to take an 8-7 extra-inning
win and won the series 2-1.
Chase Christianson went
5.1 innings allowing only one run in relief of Joey Doan to pick
up the win, improving to 7-2. The win improves the Jag record to
34-16 on the season and 14-6 in SBC play.
Six Jags picked up multiple
hit games. Tyler Jones, David Freese, Jeff Cunningham, Guillermo
Martinez and David Doss each had two hits apiece. Doss’ knock
extended his hitting streak to 12 games.
South Alabama got on
the board in the first inning. Jones led off with a rocket into
the right center field gap and hustling out of the box, went all
the way around to third base for his ninth triple of the season.
Patrick Weaver then followed with an RBI groundout to second base,
to give the Jags an early lead, 1-0.
The Privateers wasted
no time taking the lead back as they scored two runs in the bottom
of the first off of Doan. Jason Schwab led off with an infield single.
Brandon Bowser was then hit by a pitch. Michael Epping then bounced
a single through the right side plating the first UNO run. With
runners on first and third Doan balked home the second run, to make
the score 2-1.
UNO added one run in
the bottom of the third inning. Schwab led off the third with a
double to right field. A groundout to shortstop moved Schwab to
third and Epping again singled through the right side to make the
score 3-1. The rain came during Greg Wolfe’s at bat and produced
a delay of 1:22. After the delay Doan walked Wolfe to load the bases.
After Mike Costantino grounded back to Doan for a force play at
the plate, Doan got T.J. Baxter to ground out and end the threat.
The Jags got one run
back in the top of the fourth inning. Cunningham and Doss each collected
infield singles to open the inning. Aaron George then moved Cunningham
to third when he grounded into a 5-4-3 double play. Martinez then
grounded to short which looked to end the inning, but David Broussard
booted the ball which allowed Cunningham to score and make the score
3-2 Privateers.
UNO put up a single run
in the bottom of the fourth inning which put the Privateer lead
at two. Schwab took a 3-2 Doan fastball over the left field wall.
The opposite field homer was his seventh of the season, making the
score 4-2.
The Privateers scored
two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and chased Doan from
the game. Johnny Giavotella reached first via a walk and Costantino
hammered his second homerun in as many days. The two-run blast put
UNO up 6-2.
South Alabama took adavantage
of some shaky Privateer defense to plate a pair of unearned runs
in the top of the seventh. Martinez led off with a single to left
field. Joel Collins then followed with a grounder to short. Defensive
replacement Matt Lesyk booted the ball putting runners on the corners
with nobody out. Pitch hitter Chris Davis drove in Martinez with
a groundout. After Jones lined a single to right field, Weaver lofted
a sacrifice fly to center field to cut the UNO lead to 6-4.
Like Saturday’s
game, UNO added insurance in the bottom of the eighth. Four consecutive
hits led to a single run. Costantino, Baxter, Josh Tarnow and Lesyk
each singled in succession, to put the Privateers up 7-5.
South Alabama used two
more unearned runs in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game. Pitch
hitter Lance Hiesler earned a tough leadoff walk. Jones then lined
to second base, where Giavotella made an amazing diving stab for
the first out. Weaver then grounded out to third to put the pressure
on Freese. Freese hit the ball hard but it was fielded by Lesyk.
Lesyk’s throw bounced past Wolfe allow the Freese to reach
and gave the Jags the opportunity they needed. Heisler scored on
the play to cut the lead to 7-6. Cunningham then provided the fireworks
with a line shot up the middle, scoring Freese and tying the game.
Both runs in the ninth were unearned.
The Jags plated the eventual
game winner in the tenth with some more help from the Privateer
defense. Martinez led off the tenth with a base hit through the
left side. The normally reliable Collins was unable to get the bunt
down and struck out after fouling off the third strike bunt attempt.
Heisler dropped a beautiful bunt down the third base line. Baxter’s
throw was ruled an error to put runners on first and second. Jones
then hammered a grounder to short which eluded Lesyk. The ball rolled
into center field allowing Martinez to score the game go-ahead run.
Chase Christianson pitched
a scoreless ninth inning to preserve the win but it did not come
easily. Christianson hit Wolf to open the inning and put the tying
run on base. Josh Jones was asked to bunt. Jones lined the bunt
to the first base side of the mound. Christianson made a full length
dive to snare the bunt out of the air. He turned and forced Wolfe
off of first, for a double play. Christianson then fanned Baxter
to end the game.
The Jags are back in
action Tuesday and Wednesday night as they take to the road against
the Gamecocks of Jacksonville State.
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