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Jags Upset Wichita State

By Randy Patrick Sports

Published: Wed, May 09, 2007 - 5:05 am

Randy Patrick

The University of South Alabama baseball team opened a two game series at No. 9 Wichita State with a 7-6 win on Tuesday night at Eck Stadium. With the win, USA improves to 25-21, while Wichita State falls to 41-14. Wichita State got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning with a RBI single by Matt Brown thanks to a walk and a South Alabama error. The Shockers hit into an inning-ending double play holding a 1-0 lead. South Alabama came right back in the top of the second as junior Jeff Cunningham hit a lead-off home run off Max Hutson to tie the game at one. It was Cunningham's team-leading 19th round-tripper of the season. Jaguar hurler Stephen Boyd walked the bases loaded in the bottom of the third for Brown who hit a sacrifice fly scoring Dusty Coleman from third to put WSU up 2-1. The Shockers added another run as Derek Schermerhorn hit a RBI single through the left side for a 3-1 lead. The Jaguars tied the game again courtesy of the longball as junior Ryne Jernigan a two blast, his third home run of the season, to tie the game at three in the top of the fourth inning. The Shockers made a pitching change as Kyle Touchatt came in for Hutson. Moments later, senior Billy Kleinschrodt put the Jags up 4-3 with a RBI single down the left field line scoring senior Michael Cart from third. Senior Ben Daw reached on a throwing error by the Shockers followed by two more Shocker errors plating two more runs for the Jaguars, pushing the lead to 6-3. The Shockers erased a three run deficit in the bottom of the fifth with a lead-off double, followed by RBI single and a RBI triple by Brown. Schermerhorn tied the game with a sacrifice fly. USA regained the lead in the top of the sixth with a sacrifice fly by Russell Harben to put the Jaguars up 7-6. Junior Ray Kruml was hit by a pitch and scored on the Harben fly. A bloop-single followed by a balk and a walk put two Shockers on with nobody out in the bottom of the seventh. Jaguar senior hurler Tyler Kerns later loaded the bases, but got out of the mess retiring the next three batters via a ground out, lineout and a fielder's choice to preserve the 7-6 lead. A two out single to left by Dusty Coleman followed by a walk to Dirks put runners on first and second for WSU in the bottom of the eighth. A stolen base by Coleman put runners at the corners for Damon Sublett who grounded into an inning-ending fielder's choice. True freshman Chris LaGrow came into pitch in the bottom of the ninth for the Jaguars against the heart of the order for the Shockers. LaGrow got Brown to ground out and struck out Schermerhorn and Josh Workman to go down swinging to end the game and collect his seventh save. Tyler Kerns picked up the win; he is now 2-1. Wednesday, USA and WSU will play the final game of the series at 7 p.m. at Eck Stadium.