MOBILE, Ala. - University of South Alabama junior Brent Tanner went 3-for-3 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored to lead the Jaguars to a 9-3 win over USA Alumni in the 2010 Alumni Game Sunday afternoon at Stanky Field. The Lucedale, Miss. native collected hits in three consecutive at-bats to pace the Jags in the win.
USA third baseman Jake Overstreet also collected three hits in the game, going 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and two stolen bases.
Junior pitcher Carlton Paris picked up the win in 2.0 innings of relief, allowing just one hit while striking out one. A total of six Jaguar pitchers took the mound in the game. Senior Lance Baxter started the game for the Jags, and allowed just two hits in 2.0 innings while striking out one Alumni batter.
"It was a fun game," USA head coach Steve Kittrell said. "We finally came around and swung the bats like we needed to. I thought a few of our pitchers, especially Lance Baxter, Carlton Paris and Lance Brown looked pretty good, and I thought we played well defensively. Now we have to go back for the next week-and-a-half and use this time wisely to get ready for our season opener."
The Alumni took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning after former Jags Lance Heisler and Clint Toomey led off the inning with consecutive singles. Ryne Jernigan plated Heisler with a sacrifice fly to right field for the game's first run. Ray Kruml later drove in two runs on a single to the right side of the infield.
USA shortstop Brandon Brown led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a single, and later scored on an RBI-single by Zach Grichor to cut the Alumni lead to 3-1. Grichor was thrown out at the plate later in the inning while trying to score on Tanner's double.
The Jaguars added another run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Jake Overstreet, after leading off the inning with a double off the left field wall, stole third and scored on a throwing error by former Jaguar David Doss.
The wheels fell off for the Alumni in the bottom of the seventh as USA scored six runs on three hits. Taylor White and Tanner each collected RBI singles in the inning. The Alumni pitchers issued three walks and hit two USA batters in the inning to add to the damage.
USA scored its final run of the game in the bottom of the eighth inning when junior Tyler Vick drove in Tanner on a sacrifice fly to right field. Tanner led off the inning with a walk, advanced to second on a single by Overstreet and reached third on Nolan Earley's fielder's choice.
Former USA standout and current St. Louis Cardinals pitcher P.J. Walters started on the mound for the Alumni. Walters allowed only one hit in 3.0 innings, and struck out two Jaguar batters while issuing one walk.
USA opens the 2010 season Fri., Feb. 19, with a doubleheader against Jackson State at 1 p.m. at Stanky Field.
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).
NOTES: USA collected 12 hits in the game, half of which came from the bats of Tanner and Overstreet ... Jaguar pitchers Chris Brown, Michael Raia, Carlton Paris and Lance Brown allowed a combined to allow just four hits and no runs in six innings of work ... The Jaguars won their second consecutive game over the Alumni, after falling 5-3 in the 2007 game.
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