LAFAYETTE, La. ? The University of South Alabama battled back from a 6-2 deficit in the fifth inning, scoring two runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh, tying the game, only to watch Louisiana-Lafayette score three runs of its own to win game two by a score of 9-6 at Tigue Moore Field in Lafayette, La. Saturday afternoon.
With the loss, South Alabama drops to 11-6 on the season and 0-2 in Sun Belt play. Louisiana-Lafayette is now 13-3 for the year and 2-0 in SBC action. Both starters, Brandon Sage for the Jags and John Zorich of the Cajuns, did not figure in the decision. Matt Pilgreen (1-0) got the win for ULL while Tyler Kerns (1-1) took the loss for USA.
The Jags jumped on the Cajuns and Zorich early, as USA scored two quick runs after the first three Jags singled to open the game. USA plated two runs, both on sacrifice flies to take a 2-0 lead.
The Cajuns answered with a single run in the first and two more in the third. Sage was victimized by the long ball all day, as ULL hit three home runs, the last coming when ULL put up two runs in the fifth to take a 6-2 lead.
South Alabama scratched a pair of runs across in the top of the sixth, as Eric Shortell doubled and scored on a Bunky Kateon RBI ground out. Bill Kleinschrodt also picked up an RBI groundout, to cut the ULL lead to 6-4.
The Jags tied the game in dramatic fashion as Shortell and Jeff Cunningham hit back-to-back home runs to tie the game. Shortell’s was his third of the season, a blast to center field, which was followed by Cunningham’s seventh, bomb to right field on the next pitch.
ULL wasted no time taking back the lead, as Nolan Gisclair homered to open the bottom of the seventh. With runners on first and second, a costly error by Jeff Cunningham allowed the Cajuns to load the bases. Justin Robichaux made the Jags pay, with a two-run single.
Next up for South Alabama is the final game of the three-game set. Game time Sunday is 1 p.m. Joey Doan will get the start for USA. ULL will counter with Hunter Moody.
