Jaguar baseball loses opener to USM late. The series was a big one for the Jags. If they are going to get closer to a top 5 finish in the Sun Belt Conference, they will have to win the series against the two best teams in the conference. Starting with a red hot Southern Miss. The Eagles had won 7 straight coming into tonight, and are tied for first place with Coastal Carolina.
How It Happened
The Jags came out firing in the top of the first. Erick Orbeta led off the game with a single. JG Bell hit the first pitch he saw for a double. That brought Will Turner to the plate with 2 on and no outs. Turner hit an rbi sac fly to right scoring Orbeta. Trey Lewis would ground out, advancing Bell to third. Joseph Sullivan would then strike out to end the inning. In the inning the Jags scored one run, on two hits, and led 1-0.
In the top of the second South Alabama would put more pressure on Southern Miss. After Tyler Borges and Diego Altamirano both struck out. Austin Thrasher would come to the plate, and smash a solo home run to left. Micah Morgan would then end the inning on a line out to second base. In the top of the second the Jags score one run o one hit and led 2-0 nothing.
Southern Miss would answer back with 1 run in the bottom of the second, and bottom of the 4th to tie the game at 2-2. That score would hold until the Eagles scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth and 2 more runs in the bottom of the seventh. USM led 6-2.
In the top of the ninth the Jags would try to mount a comeback. Turner walked to lead off the inning. Jackson Howard would pinch hit for Lewis, grounding into a double play. Sully would single to right with 2 outs. Borges and Altamirano would both walk to load the bases. Ryan Storey would pinch run for Sullivan at third. That would bring up Thrasher. After a Southern Miss pitching change, Thrasher hit a 2 rbi single to left center. That got the Jags within 2. Micah Morgan would strike out however to end the inning and the game Jags lose by the final of 6-4.
Key Stats
Austin Thrasher went 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs and scored a run, the solo home run included.
Erick Orbeta went 1 for 4 with a run scored.
Leif Moore pitched well, he just ran out of gas in the bottom of the sixth. Going 5 2/3, giving up 4 runs on 5 hits, striking out 4 and hitting 4 batters including 3 consecutive batters in the bottom of the fourth. Moore’s record dropped to 3-1 on the season.
Next Up
Game Two- Saturday with a Noon start time. Originally scheduled time moved up, due to forecasted rain later on in Hattiesburg.
Bryan’s Takes
My MVP for the Jags would have to be Austin Thrasher, The solo shot in the 4th and led the team with 2 hit.
The Jags stranded 5 runners on base today. Which against a great Southern Miss team is not bad. Three of those came at the end of the game. The pitching depth is still a problem with the Jags. Inconsistencies are still popping up. Not taking anything away from a great Southern Miss team at all. Moore is being stretched out. There have been a lot of injured arms, that are starting to come back. Bullpen is still shaky sometimes.
The Jaguars have won 5 straight series. They can still make it six straight. It’s going to take that same aggression and some excellent pitching. Mitchell Heer is scheduled to start for the Jaguars for game two.
Become A Supporter
If you like the blog and enjoy the information that we are sharing with you. I would invite you to become a supporter. There are multiple ways to support the blog. For either just $4 , $7 or $10 a month you can help this blog grow. You can cancel at anytime. Click the link, make a free profile, and then click the Bronze $4 ,Sliver $7, or Gold $10 a month tab to become a supporter. Thank you in advance and as always GO JAGS!!!
Become a Subscriber to the Jag Wire Message Board
If you would like to be a part of the our newest way to grow a community of like minded Jag Fans. Posting and sharing Jaguar Athletics related information like games, schedules, recruiting, and so much more, in a community made just for Jag Fans come be a part of THE JAG WIRE. Click the link above, make a free profile go to the membership tabs and follow the instructions in the highlighted tier labeled Join The Jag Wire forum.
