Columbia
South Alabama
Columbia Outhits South Alabama, but Jaguars Claim 10-7 Victory on Saturday
3/12/2011 5:33:00 PM | Baseball
MOBILE, Ala. -- Columbia brought the tying run at the plate with two outs in the ninth inning after rallying from an 8-1 deficit but could not even the score as South Alabama came away with a 10-7 win on a 70-degree, Saturday afternoon at Stanky Field.
After trailing 8-1 through four innings, Columbia scored four times in the sixth, once in the eighth and once in the ninth to make it a 10-7 game. Dario Pizzano went 4-for-5 with two runs batted in, Alexander Aurrichio had three hits and two RBI and Nick Ferraresi had three RBI, including a two-run homer as the Columbia bats erupted midway through the game.
South Alabama took an early 3-0 lead on six hits in the second inning against Columbia starter Geoff Whitaker. After Whitaker retired the side in order in the third, Columbia notched its first run of the game in the fourth.
Jon Eisen worked a 12-pitch at-bat against starter Dustin Crenshaw to lead off the frame but ultimately grounded out. Pizzano followed with the first of his three doubles in the game and advanced to third on a single to center by Aurrichio. Ferraresi grounded into a fielder's choice that scored Pizzano, making it a 3-1 game.
South Alabama quickly regained momentum with five runs in the bottom of the inning, the first coming on Taylor White's solo home run with one out. Whitaker walked the next batter but made a nice play on a bunt to get the second out and appeared close to limiting the damage. However, the Jaguars scored four times with two outs and took an 8-1 lead after four.
In the sixth, Columbia finally got to Crenshaw, who was around the plate all day throwing strikes. With two outs, the Lions scored four times, started on a single by Eisen.
Pizzano doubled into the right-center field gap to plate Eisen, making it 8-2. Aurrichio followed with a sharp RBI single to make it 8-3 and Ferraresi then clocked a 2-0 pitch deep down the left field line for his second home run of the season that made it an 8-5 game.
The Jaguars came back with two runs in the seventh against Lion reliever Zach Epstein to make it a 10-5 score, but Columbia got one back in the eighth when Aurrichio singled home Pizzano, who doubled with one out. Ferraresi singled to put runners on first and second to bring up Jason Banos, who had two hits in three at-bats already.
Banos rocketed one to deep left center and Taylor White came in at first, but scampered back to rob Banos and ultimately end the threat in the eighth.
Ricky Kleban worked a scoreless eighth inning, retiring South Alabama in order, setting the stage for the ninth.
Pinch-hitter Eric Williams drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch from Jaguar reliever Jeff Miller and after there was one out, Nick Crucet ran for Williams at first base.
With two outs, Eisen lined a single that ricocheted off the glove of shortstop Logan Kirkland to put runners at the corners for Pizzano.
Pizzano hit a mile-high popup against South Alabama closer Cory McGinnis that ultimately dropped in left field for a hit, scoring Crucet and putting runners back on the corners with two outs and the score at 10-7.
Aurrichio stepped to the plate as the tying run and got the count to 3-2. After fouling off a tough 3-2 pitch, he too skied one a mile high but third baseman Jake Overstreet came halfway down the line toward the plate to make the grab as the game ended.
Whitaker got saddled with his first loss of the season while Crenshaw's record improved to 3-0 with the victory.
Columbia and South Alabama will resume their four-game series on Sunday, March 13 at 2 p.m. Eastern, 1 p.m. Central.
NOTES:
Columbia's two through five hitters had 13 hits in 23 at-bats ... Dario Pizzano also scored three runs in the game ... Anthony Potter pinch hit in the ninth to make his first appearance of the season ... Alex Godshall made a highlight-reel play in the sixth inning, when he made a headlong dive to his right and got up to rob Jordan Patterson of a base hit ... Jon Eisen made a solid defensive play of his own on the previous play, fielding a hard-hit in-between hop to retire Logan Kirkland.
