Jaguar baseball rallies late to win its first Sun Belt Conference game of the season. They also broke an ugly seven game losing streak. The final score 12-11.
This season South Alabama baseball has been extremely inconsistent. Two out hitting has been virtually nonexistent at times. Pitching has not been able to consistently get outs at key moments in the game. This team has really been searching for its identity for the majority of the season. Tonight the South Alabama looked like a team that would not be denied. This win was definitely a hard fought game against a good team.
How It Happened
The Jags would jump in front early, in the bottom of the first inning. Erick Orbeta would lead off the inning hitting the 1-1 pitch to left for a single. That brought up JG Bell. After Orbeta advanced to second on a wild pitch. Bell would hit the 2-2 pitch to the pitcher. The pitcher threw to third base to get Orbeta for the first out. Bell was safe on the play at first base on a fielders choice. Will Turner would fly out to center field for the second out, bringing Cole Ketzner to the plate. Ketzner would hit a two run homer to left to give the Jags the lead 2-0. Joseph Sullivan would strike out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the second. After Coleson Lawerence struck out for the first out of the inning. Trey Lewis would come to the plate and hit a double to left field..Robbie Petracci would come up next. Patracci would be hit by the 1-2 pitch. Mitchell Heer would then reach on an error by the 2nd baseman to load the bases with one out. Orbeta would hit an rbi sac fly to left scoring Lewis. Jags led 3-0. Bell would strike out to end the inning.
Louisiana would put up a five spot in the top of the third inning. That would chase starter Conrad Gehrig from the game as the Jaguars trailed 5-3.
In the bottom of the third, the Jaguars would answer. After Turner and Ketzner both flew out, Sullivan was hit by the first pitch he saw, and Lawrence walked. Lewis would come to the plate. With two on and two out Lewis would single scoring “ Sully” on the play. Micah Morgan came in to pinch hit for Petracci, fouling out to end the inning. Jags trailed 5-4.
After holding the Ragin Cajuns in check in the top of the fourth. The Jags would come up in the bottom of the inning looking to continue the offensive showing. Heer would get a leadoff walk. Orbeta would lay down a sac bunt advancing Heer to second. Bell would then hit an rbi single up the middle. The Jaguars tied it 5-5 with only one out. Turner flew out for out number two. After a pitching change for Louisiana, Bell would advance to second on a wild pitch. Ketzner would step up with one on and two out. Ketzner would single back up the middle picking up the rbi. The Jaguars now led 6-5 as Sullivan would ground out to end the inning.
Louisiana would answer back picking up one run in the top of the fifth, two in the sixth and three in the seventh to lead 11-6.
In the bottom of the seventh the Jags would get going again. “ Sully would step to the plate, to lead off the inning, and hit a homer to right. The Jags trailed 11-7. After Lawerence grounded out, and Lewis struck out. Morgan would step to the plate with 2 outs, and hit a double to right center. That would bring up Heer, who would hit an rbi single to right. The Jags cut the deficit to three, trailing 11-8. Orbeta would hit a single, forcing a pitching change for Louisiana. Bell would then ground out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the eighth South Alabama would continue the comeback. After Turner, Ketzner, and Sullivan all walked to load the bases with nobody out. Louisiana would make another pitching change. Lawerence would hit into a fielders choice as Louisiana couldn’t complete the double play. Sullivan would be out at second and Turner would score on the play. The Jags trailed 11-9 with only one out and two runners on. Lewis would come up to the plate next. After a steal of second by Lawrence. Lewis would hit a fly ball to center field. That brought up Morgan with two on and two out. Morgan would hit a shot bouncing off of the right center field wall for a two rbi triple. The Jaguars would tie it 11-11. The next batter was Heer, who singled to right scoring Morgan from third. South Alabama had taken the lead. 12-11. Orbeta flew out to end the inning. That, would also be the final score.
Game Stats
Jackson Boyd and Grant Wood pitched the final 2 innings and slammed the door shut on Louisiana Boyd picked up his first win (1-0) and Wood picked up his third save.
Erick Orbeta went 2-4 with an rbi
JG Bell went 1-5 with an rbi and scored 2 runs
Will Turner went 1-4 and scored one run.
Cole Ketzner had a big day, going 2-4 with three rbi’s and two runs scored and a walk.
Joseph Sullivan went 1-3 with an rbi, scored two runs and walked once.
Trey Lewis went 2-5 with an rbi scoring 1 run
Micah Morgan who pitch hit for Petracci. Went 3-4 with the big two RBI’s late, scoring 2 runs.
Mitchell Heer went 2-4 with two rbi’s and one run scored.
Colson Lawrence went 0-4 but did have an rbi and scored a run.
With the win South Alabama would snap a seven game losing streak. Improving their record to 9-13 overall, and picked up their first Sun Belt win of the season 1-3.
Up Next
With the threat of severe weather, and travel issues involved in that for Louisiana, on Sunday. The Jaguars will conclude their series versus Louisiana playing a doubleheader today (Saturday). Game starts at 1pm with the next game 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.
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