By Bryan Garner
Jaguar baseball gets swept in Hattiesburg. The final today was 6-1. Southern Miss is a very good and opportunistic team, that took advantage of the Jaguar pitching this weekend. The Jags had limited success against USM this whole weekend.
How We Got There
Game One- The Jags would lead early 1-0 after 1 inning and 2-1 after 2 innings, then it was all USM after that. USM won 6-4.
Game Two- South Alabama got out to a 2-0 lead after the first inning. Then it was all USM again, just like in game one. JG Bell made a costly error, his 14th on the season, that would allow Southern Miss to have a runner on. Then Austin Thrasher would make another error the same inning to allow those runners to score. That combined with the South Alabama’s lack of pitching depth came back to bite the Jags again. USM won 6-4.
How It Happened
Game 3- Sunday USM scored early and often. In the bottom of the first Southern Miss picked up 2 runs and 2 more in the bottom of the 3rd. Taking a 4-0 lead. The Jags had their chances, but couldn’t get the timely hits with the bases loaded in the top of the 5th and the top of the 6th.
The only run that the Jags would get in this game. Would be in the top of the 5th, Joseph Sullivan would hit a solo home run to right field. The Jags were down 4-1.
Southern Miss would get 1 run in the 6th inning and 1 more in the 7th, to lead 6-1. Which would be the final score.
Key Stats
Joseph Sullivan went 1for 4 with the solo home run.
Jeremy Lee pitched ok today. Going 5 innings, giving up 4 earned runs on 9 hits, striking out 4 and walking 2. Next Up
The Jags will return home to take on Tulane. It’s a game the Jags should win.
Then, Friday through Sunday, the Jags will take on another excellent team, as Coastal Carolina comes to town. Coastal is tied with USM at first place. Coastal is #7 or #8 in the country. Depending on the poll you use. So, the Jags will have their hand full, once again.
Bryan’s Takes
The Jaguars troubles continued today. Just when you thought they were starting to turn the corner. The pitching issues that have plagued the Jaguars all year returned along with the inconsistent offense, which the Jags seemed to have fixed. Not taking anything away from Southern Miss they are a good team. They seem to be where the Jags were at a few years ago. The Jags are on the verge of playing themselves right out of the Sun Belt Tournament. Right now, the Jags are tied for 10th place with Georgia St. Only the top 10 teams will get into the tournament. The Jags will have an extremely tough road next week.
The Jags have a rich history of winning baseball over the years, from Coach Stanky through Coach Kittrell. In the past 3 years the Jags win totals have dropped. 36 in 2021, 31-in 2022, and 23 so far in 2023 with 8 games remaining. South Alabama used to be able to attract the top recruits. If they weren’t the top recruits then the coaches, would coach them up into world beaters. I understand that baseball players dont just go to the big schools anymore. There is much more equality throughout.
It just seems in my opinion that we have failed to reclaim our spot at the top of the Sun Belt. Teams aren’t afraid to play the Jags anymore. We have to get that fire and consistency back. Especially since the Sun Belt has gotten much better with expansion.
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