MOBILE, Ala. - Nathaniel Lami's two-run single broke a 6-6 tie and helped the Red team rally from two runs down for a 12-11 win in game two of the Red & Blue World Series Thursday night at Stanky Field. With the win, the Red team evened the series at one game apiece.

The Blue team mounted a rally of its own in the bottom half of the seventh and final inning, but Kyle Dees came onto the mound and worked his way out of the jam to earn the save.

"Our pitching staff got too many balls up in the zone later in the game," head coach Steve Kittrell said. "The guys had a lot of energy and played with a lot of enthusiasm, but we've got to pitch a little better; we made some bad mistakes in key situations."

Both teams got on the board early. Lami reached on an error leading off the game, then came home on a Dominic Diaz triple. Adam Heisler followed with a RBI groundout to give the Red team a 2-0 lead against Blue team starting pitcher Garrett Harris.

The Red team answered with three runs in the bottom half of the first to take a 3-2 lead. Clint Reynolds walked with one out, then stole second base before Zach Grichor doubled, putting two runners in scoring position. Jake Overstreet delivered a RBI single, Grichor scored on a wild pitch, and Sean Laird gave the Red team the lead with a RBI groundout against Red team starter Jarrett Bailey.

Both Bailey and Harris would settle down and put up zeroes in the second and third innings, but the Red team got to Harris again in the top of the fourth. Tyler Vick and Brent Tanner led off with consecutive singles, then Nolan Earley tied the game with a RBI groundout before Brent Mitchell gave the Red team a 4-3 lead with a RBI single. The next two batters reached to load the bases with one out, but Harris worked his way out of the inning without further damage.

Harris allowed four runs - three of which were earned - on seven hits and one walk in four innings. Michael Raia came out of the bullpen and worked a scoreless fifth inning, then Conner Reese worked around three singles - with the help of a perfect throw from Brad Hammac to catch Derek O'Reilly attempting to steal - in a scoreless sixth.

Bailey handed the ball to Shane LeBlanc after allowing three runs on two hits and three walks with one strikeout in four innings for the Red team. LeBlanc struggled, walking Hunt Griffith before giving up back-to-back doubles to Taylor White and Reynolds, but he got some help from his defense as Diaz handled a relay from Heisler and threw Griffin out at the plate on White's double.

Carlton Paris came on after Reynolds' double and walked Grichor before Overstreet plated the go-ahead run with a RBI groundout. The Blue team added an insurance run in the sixth when Stuart Barton lifted a home run to right field to put his team on top 6-4 going to the seventh.

Needing a pair of runs to avoid falling into a 2-0 hole in the series, the Red team came through. Jake LeBlanc came on in relief of Reese and got Vick to ground out to start the inning, but each of the next three batters would reach base. Tanner walked, Earley singled and Brent Mitchell cut the deficit to one with a RBI single that put the go-ahead run in scoring position and brought Lance Brown out of the bullpen.

O'Reilly took an intentional walk to load the bases, the Kyle Dees - a pitcher who started as the designated hitter because the Red team was short on position players - drew a game-tying walk. That set up Lami's go-ahead, two-run double, and after Diaz and Heisler loaded the bases with consecutive walks, Vick was hit by a pitch to bring in another run and force the Brad Hook to move from first base to the mound. 

Hook struck out the first batter he faced for the second out, but Earley drove in a pair of insurance runs on a single that put the Red team ahead 12-6. Those insurance runs proved crucial, as the Blue team rallied for five runs in the bottom half of the inning before stranding the tying-run at third base.

Paris returned to the mound after working 1.2 innings, but he allowed hits to each of the first four batters he faced. Reynolds doubled - giving him two doubles on the night and four in the series - then Grichor singled, Overstreet doubled and Laird drove in a pair of runs with a double.

Dees came on in relief and allowed an infield single to Hammac before finally getting the first out of the inning by striking out Hook. Barton walked, putting the potential tying-run on base, but Dees got Hunt Griffith to pop out for the second out. After consecutive walks to White and Reynolds loaded the bases, Dees got Grichor to ground into a fielder's choice to end the game.

Earley and Mitchell each went 3-for-5, and drove in three and two runs, respectively, for the Red team. Reynolds, Grichor and Overstreet had two hits apiece for the Blue team, Reynolds scored three times, and Laird drove in a team-high three runs.

Paris earned the win, despite allowing five runs in 1.2 innings, while Jake LeBlanc was saddled with the loss after allowing three runs in 0.1 inning.

The Red & Blue World Series continues with game three at 4 p.m. Thursday at Stanky Field. Starting pitchers have not been announced.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

-USA-