Box score

TUCSON, Ariz. – University of South Alabama baseball right-hander Dustin Crenshaw logged his longest career start, and the Jaguar hitters recorded a season-high 25 hits to defeat Washington State 14-3 Sunday in the Dairy Queen Classic at Kino Sports Complex. 

Crenshaw (1-0) tossed a career-best eight innings and struck out a career-high seven batters to earn his first win of the season, and has now pitched 23 1/3 innings without issuing a walk this season.

The Jaguars’ 25 hits are the most since recording 21 hits last season against Southern Miss.Every USA starter recorded multiple hits in the game, led by Brad Hook, who went 4-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Jake Overstreet went 3-for-6 with a double and three RBI, and Nolan Earley finished 3-for-6 with a doubule and two RBI.

 Stanley Jackson (0-2) suffered the loss in three innings pitched for the Cougars, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out two.

Matt Argyropoulos and Trace Tam Sing each went 2-for-4 with an RBI to lead WSU at the plate.

South Alabama jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning on RBI singles by Taylor White and Hook. White delivered a two-out single in the right-center gap to score Earley, who doubled to left-center field to lead off the inning. White then stole second and came around to score on Hook’s single to left-center field.

The Jaguars loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the fourth inning on three consecutive singles by Earley, Tilur Smith and White. Hook followed with a sacrifice fly to center field to score Earley, before Smith scored on a wild pitch to extend the USA lead to 4-0.

Washington State scored its first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning when Crenshaw mishandled Hook’s feed at first base on a two-out ground ball, allowing Derek Jones to score from third. The Cougars cut the Jaguar lead to 4-2 later in the inning on Tam Sing’s single to third base, allowing Adam Nelubowich to score.

 USA answered with a run in the top of the fifth inning to take a 5-2 lead when Overstreet singled and later scored on a fielder’s choice by Earley.

The Cougars cut the USA lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning on Argyropoulos’s RBI single that scored Taylor Ard, who doubled earlier in the inning.

Jordan Patterson gave the Jags a 6-3 lead in the top of the sixth inning with an RBI single to left field that scored Hook, who singled to lead off the inning. USA loaded the bases when Overstreet singled to shortstop, then Brent Tanner followed with an RBI single to center field to score Logan Kirkland and push the USA lead to 7-3.

WSU loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth but Crenshaw worked out of the jam with a strikeout and a 6-4 putout at second base to end the inning.

Jerry Roam pushed the USA lead to 8-3 in the top of the seventh inning when he doubled down the right field line to score Hook, who reached on a two-out double to right field. Kirkland followed with an RBI single through the left side of the infield to score Roam and extend the Jaguar lead to 9-3.

The Jaguars pushed their lead to 10-3 in the top of the eighth when Earley singled to left field to score pinch-runner Jeff DeBlieux from second base.

USA extended its lead to 14-3 in the top of the ninth on Roam’s sacrifice fly and a bases-loaded , three-run double to left field by Overstreet.

South Alabama (7-4) will return to action Tue., March 8, when it travels to Hattiesburg, Miss., for a 6 p.m. contest against Southern Miss.

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-