MOBILE, Ala. – Nationally-ranked South Alabama posted four unearned runs in the seventh to claim a 4-2 decision over Jacksonville State in the first game of a two-game midweek set between the two in-state programs at USA's Stanky Field.
The setback dropped the Gamecocks to 28-16 overall, while the win pushed No. 22 USA to 34-12 on the season. The two clubs return to action on Wednesday with first pitch set for 3 p.m.
USA took advantage of three throwing miscues in the seventh inning to rally from a 1-0 deficit. The Gamecocks' errors came on three straight bunting plays by the Jaguars and they opened the door for a big inning. Jared Barnes started the inning with a leadoff single and that put the Jaguars in to bunting mode as Adam Wolfe's sacrifice bunt was overthrown by JSU's
Nate Sylvester to put USA in a scoring situation with no outs. USA's Jason Cryar followed Wolfe with another sacrifice situation and reached with another errant throw by Sylvester. The Jaguars, who like to manufacture runs, scored the tying run on a squeeze bunt play, but JSU got an out after USA tried to get the go-ahead run on the same play.
USA took the lead on Travis Swaggerty's two-out RBI single to centerfield that was almost snagged by senior
Gavin Golsan. Cole Billingsley's delivered a two-run RBI single to right center to extend the lead to 4-1.
Offensively, JSU touched USA starter Randy Bell in the fifth after back-to-back doubles by
A.J. Reynolds and
Peyton Williams. Bell, who has midweek wins over Alabama and Auburn in the last two weeks, moved to 5-1 on the season after tossing a complete game against the Gamecocks. Bell was touched for seven hits and recorded four strikeouts in nine innings.
The Gamecock pitching staff matched Bell's performance, especially starter
Derrick Adams. The freshman lefthander went a career-best 4.2 innings and tallied a career-high six strikeouts. USA only had two hits off the Decatur, Alabama freshman. Sylvester, who was tagged with the loss, had three strikeouts. Junior
Michael McCreless added a strikeout in his 1.2 innings. JSU pitchers collected nine strikeouts on the night and just three walks.
JSU sliced the deficit in half with a run in the eighth on one of USA's errors. Freshman Nic Gaddis scored the second run on a ground ball off the bat of
Clayton Daniel. The Gamecocks attempted a rally to rally in their final plate appearance and got it started quickly with a leadoff walk by
Tyler Gamble and a single by
Paschal Petrongolo. After
Josh Bobo's drive to the gap was hauled in by USA, Reynolds rolled into a game-ending double play.
Golsan continued to swing a hot stick as he was the only Gamecock with multiple hits. Dating back to the series at Belmont, the Trussville, Alabama product is 11-for-18 in the last four games. Daniel extended his hitting streak to 19 games with a single in the first inning. Gamble also had one of JSU's seven hits in the contest.
Wednesday's matinee will be available on the Gamecock Sports Network.
