The Jaguar baseball offense exploded versus JMU. The Jaguars hit two grand slams in the game and added another home run. On their way to crushing James Madison 19-3. Sam Knowlton got the win. In a cool rainy night. The Jaguar offense appears to be finally coming out of its funk. The pitching is also showing signs of improvement. Tonight they were able to both pitch and hit in the same game. So hopefully the Jaguars are about to come out their season long funk.
How It Happened
The Jags got the scoring going in the top of the third. Erick Orbeta, doubled to left center to lead off the inning. JG Bell then had a bunt single advancing Orbeta to third. That would bring up Will Turner with two runners on and nobody out. During the at bat, Orbeta would score and Bell would advance to second, on a passed ball. Jags led 1-0. Turner would finish the at bat walking on four pitches. Trey Lewis would come up next and lay down a bunt to the pitcher. Lewis would be safe at first loading the bases. Joseph Sullivan would walk picking up the rbi. The bases would remain loaded, with no one out. The Jaguars led 2-0. Micah Morgan swung at the first pitch getting an rbi ground out to second. The Jags now led 3-0. Colson Lawerence struck out swinging, and Diego Altamirano grounded out to end the inning.
In the top of of third, the Jaguars scored three runs and lead 3-0.
In the top of the fourth the Jags looked to add to the lead. Mitchell Heer singled to left to lead off the inning. Orbeta laid down a bunt single to third base. Bell hit a sacrifice ground out to third advancing the runners to second and third. Turner would them walk to load the bases with one out. After Lewis flied out to right for out two, with no runner advancement on the play, “Sully” would pick up the rbi on the walk. Jags now led 4-0. Bases were still loaded with two outs. Micah Morgan would fly out to left for the third out.
In the top of fourth inning, the Jaguars score 1 run and now lead 4-0.
Moving along to the top of the sixth, the Jaguars looked to bust the game open. JMU brought in a new pitcher to face the lead off man Orbeta, who singled to third. Bell stepped in next. Bell would lay down the sac bunt to third, but reached on a throwing error by the third baseman. That brought up Turner who proceeded to reach on a fielders choice and advanced to second, thanks to another error by the first baseman. That error also allowed Orbeta to score. That brought up Lewis. During Trey’s at bat. Bell scored on a wild pitch and Turner advanced to third. Lewis resumed his at bat and hit a two run home run to left field.
The Jags now led 8-0 with still just one out. “Sully” singled down the first base line and Morgan laid down a sac bunt and reached first on another throwing error by JMU. Their third one of the inning. That forced JMU into another pitching change with still nobody out. Lawerence would pop the ball up to second for out one. That brought up Diego with two on and one out.
Altamirano would double down the right field line picking up the rbi. After Heer struck out for the second out, Orbeta singled up the middle scoring two more. South Alabama now led 11-0 as Bell popped out to end the inning.
In the top of the sixth the Jags scored seven runs and now led 11-0.
JMU would get on the board in the bottom of the sixth scoring two runs. The Jags led 11-2 after six.
South Alabama wasn’t nearly finished scoring. In the top of the seventh inning. Turner flew out to lead off the inning. Lewis walked bring up Sullivan. During the at bat Lewis moved to second on a wild pitch. Sullivan would end up walking, which forced another pitching change for JMU. Morgan would get hit by the pitch to load the bases with one out.
Colson Lawrence stepped up and delivered a grand slam bomb, to right center. The Jags increased the lead to 15-2. After Altamirano grounded out for the second out, Heer singled to short. Hunter Donaldson would pinch run for Heer. Orbeta and Bell both walked to load the bases with two outs, however Turner would ground out to end the inning.
In the top of the seventh The Jaguars scored four more runs and led 15-2.
Going into the top of the ninth the Jags wanted to continue the scoring. Austin Thrasher struck out but reached first on a wild pitch. Cole Ketzner flied out to center, for the first out. Donaldson would single through the right side but Thrasher would be thrown out at second. Tyler Borges would pinch hit for Orbeta. Borges would double to left, as Donaldson was able to advance to third. After a Bell walk to load the bases again, Turner stepped up with two outs. Turner would deposit 1-2 pitch over the right field fence for a grand slam. That was the Jags second grand slam of the game. After Lewis popped out to first for the third out, the Jags led 19-2.
In the top of the ninth South Alabama scored four more runs and led 19-2.
In the bottom of the ninth JMU picked up 1 run and the final score was 19-3.
Game Stats
James Madison’s defense didn’t do them any favors, committing three errors at key moments. Todd Mozoki picked up the loss. His record fell to 0-3.
Every pitcher for JMU gave up at least 2 earned runs.
Knowlton improved his record to 2-1 on the season. He pitched well and was on a predetermined pitch count, going 3 2/3 innings giving up two hits and striking out five. Allowing no runs on 67 pitches. I’m looking for him to be extended in his next start as long as he responds well these next few days.
Orbeta continues his hot hitting. Going 4-5 with two rbis and a walk
Will Turner went 1-4 with four rbi, including his grand slam, and scored three runs.
Trey Lewis went 3-6 with 2 rbis including his 2 run home run scoring twice.
Joseph “Sully” Sullivan went 2-3 with 2 RBI’s and two runs scored.
Colson Lawrence went 1-5 with four rbis including his grand slam.
Next up
The Jags take on JMU again at 3 pm central time.
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