Courtesy University of Arkansas at Little Rock Athletics Department
MOBILE, Ala. – South Alabama (21-4, 5-1 SBC) completed the three-game sweep of UALR (10-14, 0-6 SBC) with an 11-1 win in seven innings on Sunday at Stanky Field. The Jaguars put up 12 hits on the day and used a stellar effort from starting pitcher Jared Cito (1-1), who went the full 7.0 innings while giving up just one run on one hit and striking out 11 UALR batters.
Junior Ethan Schlechte (2-3) was handed the loss for the Trojans after allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits in 4.3 innings of work. Senior Myles Parma, who singled to lead off the top of the fourth inning, was responsible for the lone UALR hit on Sunday. Freshman Ryan Scott scored UALR’s only run of the day in the top half of the third off a fielder’s choice by sophomore Sam Vogel.
Whitt Dorsey led the South Alabama bats by going 4-for-4 with five RBI and three runs scored. Dustin Dalken and Nick Zaharion added two hits each for the Jaguars.
South Alabama took an early 2-0 lead thanks two hits and one Trojan error in the bottom of the second. After Nolan Earley walked to lead off the inning, a single by Dorsey gave the Jags runners at first and second with no outs. Zaharion slapped an RBI single to left centerfield to plate the first USA run of the game. Robby Campbell then reached base on a UALR error to load the bases for the Jaguars, and Cole Billingsley drew a two-out walk to give South Alabama a 2-0 lead.
The Trojans got a run back in the top of the third when a groundout by Vogel plated Scott, who led off the inning by reaching base on an error by the USA shortstop.
With its lead cut to one, South Alabama responded by putting up two runs on three hits in the bottom half of the third. After Jordan Patterson singled to lead off the inning, Earley doubled down the right field line to drive in Patterson. An RBI single by Dorsey later in the inning brought home Earley to put the Jags up 4-1 after three innings of play.
A three-run homer by Dorsey in the bottom of the fifth made it a 7-1 game, and four hits led to four more South Alabama runs in the bottom of the seventh to put the Jaguars up 11-1.
UALR returns to action on Tuesday when it travels to Nacogdoches, Texas, to take on Stephen F. Austin. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m.