DH Game 1 box score
DH Game 2 box score
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MOBILE, Ala. – College of Charleston took both games of Sunday’s doubleheader at Stanky Field to complete a three-game sweep of University of South Alabama baseball on opening weekend.
The Cougars (3-0) won the first game of Sunday’s twinbill 6-3, and shut out the Jags 3-0 in the second game of the doubleheader.
“College of Charleston did a very good job on the mound,” USA head coach Mark Calvi said. “All of their starters did a good job and out of the bullpen, they came in and did what they had to do. They got their lead outs and finished off their innings, and that’s a credit to them. I thought we left too many men on base as a whole on the weekend. We need to be a little more aggressive in certain situations. I thought we swung at some bad pitches and took some good pitches, and that’s an approach thing. But give College of Charleston credit. The games were evenly played, but I thought they played better than we did for three games.”
South Alabama (0-3) will return to action Tuesday when it hosts Jackson State at 6:30 p.m. at Stanky Field.
Game 1 – College of Charleston 6, South Alabama 3
College of Charleston scored five unanswered runs, aided by a four-run sixth inning, to secure a 6-3 win in game one.
The Cougars loaded the bases in the top of the first inning on a walk by Tyler Jackson, single by Marty Gannt and hit by pitch to Aldrich. But Jaguar right-hander Payton Gardner induced a lineout to shortstop off the bat of Dre Watts and a strikeout of Brandon Glazer to end the threat.
USA then jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Whitt Dorsey drew a two-out walk, and Brad Hook followed with a double inside the right-field line. Dustin Dalken then delivered a two-run single through the right side of the infield. Two batters later, J.T. Files reached on a sharply hit ball that Cougar third baseman Glazer mishandled to allow Dalken to score from second base.
Gardner worked out of a jam in the top of the second after a single by Cody Martin and one-out double by Gunnar Heidt. But Gardner followed with a strikeout of Bradley Goodson and an inning-ending flyout off the bat of Jackson.
College of Charleston cut the Jaguar lead to 3-1 in the top of the third inning on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Glazer that scored Gantt, who singled to lead off the inning.
The Cougars took a 6-3 lead in the top of the sixth on a two-run double by Gantt and a pinch-hit, two-run double by Harding which closed the game’s scoring.
Matt Pegler (1-0) earned the win in five innings for the Cougars, allowing three runs on three hits with a pair of strikeouts and three walks. David Peterson earne his second save of the series with a perfect ninth inning. USA left-hander Andrew Fonzi (0-1) suffered the loss in 2/3 innings pitched and allowed four runs, only one of which was earned, on three hits with one walk.
Gantt went 4-for-4 with a double, two RBI, three runs scored and a walk to lead the Cougars at the plate. Heidt went 4-for-5 with two doubles and a run scored, and Martin added two hits.
Dalken went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored to lead the Jags offensively. Hook had a double and one run scored, and Logan Kirkland and Nolan Earley added one hit apiece.
Game 2 – College of Charleston 3, South Alabama 0
Cougar right-hander Christian Powell (1-0) held the Jags hitless for 4 1/3 innings and pitched six shutout innings and allowed just two hits with four strikeouts and four walks to lead College of Charleston to a 3-0 win to complete the series sweep.
USA right-hander Dillon Buhrkuhl (0-1) suffered the loss in five innings pitched, allowing two runs on three hits with four strikeouts and one walk.
College of Charleston drew first blood in the top of the second inning on a two-out RBI single by Jimmy Holton that scored Brandon Murray, who led off the inning with a double to right field.
The Cougars doubled their lead to 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning when Aldrich hit a solo homer over the right-field wall. In the bottom of the fourth, USA shortstop Robby Campbell ended Powell’s no-hit bid in the bottom of the fourth with a single to right field.
College of Charleston added an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning when Harding scored on a wild pitch.
Aldrich finished 1-for-3 with a home run, one RBI and a run scored to lead the Cougars at the plate. Murray went 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored, while Hardin, Martin and Holton added one hit each.
Campbell and Whitt Dorsey had the only two hits of the game for South Alabama.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchaseed by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
-USA-
NOTES: Jaguar starting pitchers Jarron Cito, Gardner and Buhrkuhl combined to allow just four earned runs in 15 innings pitched … The series marked the first time the Jags have been swept in a three-game home series since 2009, when USA dropped three games to Florida International … It also marked the first time the Jags have been swept in three games by a non-conference opponent since 2004, when USA dropped three games at Texas A&M to open the season.
