South Alabama Jaguar baseball splits a double header versus Eastern Kentucky as part of the Jaguar Classic. In the first game the Jaguars would fall 2-0. The Jaguars had a chances in game one but couldn’t capitalize on them. Gehrig Conrad would take the loss for the Jags, giving up 1 run on three hits. Conrad pitched 5 innings walking three and striking out five.
In game two thing changed, big time. The Jags would score early and often.
In the bottom of the 2nd. Diego Altamirano would strike out for out 1. Cole Ketzner walked Colson Lawrence would single to right and Ketzner advanced to third. Tyler Borges struck out swinging for out 2. Lawrence stole 2nd. JG Bell would hit a 2 RBI single to the right side. Erick Orbeta would ground out 2 second to end the inning Jags lead 2-0.
In the bottom of the 3rd the Jags would get a run on an Altamirano hit an RBI single to center scoring Will Turner. Jags led 3-0.
In the bottom of the 4th, Orbeta would hit an RBI double to left, scoring Boges on the play. After a Will Turner walk to load the bases, Mitchell Heer was hit by the pitch and picked up the RBI scoring Orbeta. South Alabama would lead 5-0 at that point.
Eastern Kentucky would pick up a run in the inning The Jags still led 5-1
In the bottom of the fifth. Borges would reach on a throwing error, scoring Lawrence who had singled and reached second after a wild pitch. Borges would score on a wild pitch. Bell would score on another wild pitch. Altamirano hit a bases loaded RBI single to center field, scoring Thrasher and the bases would remain loaded. After an Eastern Kentucky pitching change. With one out Cole Ketzner would hit a 2 RBI double down the line scoring HEER and Turner. The Jags would break it open leading 11-1
South Alabama would keep the scoring going in the bottom of the 6th on a Will Turner 3 RBI triple scoring Thrasher Orbeta and Bell. Heer would then hit an RBI sac fly to right scoring Turner. Jags increase the lead to 15-1.
Eastern Kentucky would have a big inning in the top of the 7th the would pick up 6 runs on 4 hits. That would cut the Jaguars lead to 9 (15-6)
Then the wheels would really fall off for Eastern Kentucky in the bottom of the 7th. The Jags would get an RBI single to right from Orbeta scoring Borges. The next batter Thrasher would walk to load the bases. Turner would get an RBI single to center scoring Bell. The bases would remain loaded with nobody out. The next batter, Heer walked picking up the RBI scoring Orbeta. After an EKU pitching change, the next batter Altamirano would get the RBI bases loaded walk scoring Thrasher. Ketzner was next up with bases still loaded and nobody out. Ketzner would get an RBI single to right down the line scoring Turner from 3rd. Donaldson would pop out for out number one. Borges got a RBI bases loaded walk scoring Heer. Bell lined out to center for a RBI sac fly scoring Altamirano for out number 2. The next batter up Orbeta would get the bases again after being hit by the pitch. Thrasher would walk next on 4 straight pitches. The next batter to come up, Turner was hit by the pitch that scored Borges Turner picked up an RBI. Heer walked on 4 more pitches picking up the RBI scoring Orbeta. After another pitching change for Eastern Kentucky Altamirano wold get another bases loaded walk and RBI scoring Thrasher. Ketzner would pop out to end the inning. The Jags would pick up 11 runs on just 3 hits in the inning. They lead 26 -6.
In the top of the eighth Eastern Kentucky would go down 1-2-3. The game would end there in the bottom of the 8th.
The South Alabama Jaguars score 26 runs total of Eastern Kentucky pitching, 24 of those runs were earned runs. The Jags would earn 20 walks and 6 were batters hit by Eastern Kentucky pitchers.
Next up The Jaguars are now 2-1 on the season, and will take on UAB to close out the Jaguar Classic Sunday at 3pm
