MOBILE, Ala. (5/6/22) – The Arkansas State baseball team could not overcome a four-run first inning for South Alabama Friday night, ultimately falling 7-1 to the Jaguars at Eddie Stanky Field.
A-State (10-30, 5-16 SBC) was held scoreless through eight innings by starter Matt Boswell (6-3), who struck out nine and walked one in eight-plus innings for the Jaguars (25-19, 11-11).
Brandon Hager led the Red Wolves with a 2-for-3 day, while twin brother Jacob Hager drove in A-State's run in the ninth inning with a base hit.
Justin Medlin (1-5) pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs while striking out five before handing off to an A-State bullpen that tossed 3 2/3 scoreless frames. Walker Williams struck out two in 1 2/3 innings before Jake Algee and Will Gilmer hurled an inning apiece to finish it.
South Alabama tallied 10 hits, led by a 2-for-4 day for cleanup hitter Hunter Stokes, who scored two and drove in a pair. Erick Orbeta went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, while Will Turner also drove in two runs.
The Jaguars struck first with a pair of two-run home runs in the bottom of the first off the bat of Turner and Stokes to lead 4-0 after one. Medlin settled down after the homers, ending the inning with three consecutive strikeouts.
Medlin stranded the bases full in the third to keep the score intact before A-State had a scoring opportunity in the top of the fourth. The Red Wolves loaded the bases with a four-pitch walk to Jaylon Deshazier with one out, but a strikeout and diving catch by Turner kept the Scarlet and Black off the board.
South Alabama plated its final three in the fifth after loading the bases with one out. An RBI single by Kasey Donaldson scored Stokes before Williams entered in relief of Medlin. After a strikeout, Orbeta doubled home Landon Jordan and Donaldson, while Williams forced a groundout to end the inning.
A-State chased Boswell with back-to-back singles to lead off the top of the ninth by Brandon Hager and Deshazier, ending the shutout with two outs in the inning when Jacob Hager singled home pinch-runner Garrett Olson. Collin Brougham finished it out, forcing a groundout following Hager's RBI single to end the contest.
NEXT UP
The Red Wolves look to even the series in the second game of the three-game set on Saturday, with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. The game will be broadcasted live on ESPN+, while the radio broadcasts can be heard on The Ticket Radio Network stations 95.3, 96.9, 104.1 and 970 AM.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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