Jones Powers State Past South Alabama 10-6
April 19, 2005 | Baseball
The Bulldogs erupted for five runs in the fifth inning to take a 7-4lead and put the game away with a three-run ninth.
Jones hit his fourth home run of the year to open the second inning,extending his hitting streak to 12 games and giving the Bulldogs a 1-0lead. He doubled in a run during a five-run fifth when State sent ninebatters to the plate. Jones later singled in the seventh and had arun-scoring hit in the ninth inning.
Jeffrey Rea belted his first long ball of the year, a two-run blast inthe fifth and Brian LaNinfa doubled in two runs to cap State'sninth-inning burst.
Freshman Jon Lalor drew the start for State, scattering eight hits andallowing three runs (one earned) during his 3-1/3 inning mound stint.Mike Valentine (2-0) replaced Lalor in the fourth, allowing two runs(one earned) on three hits. Freshman Justin Pigott scattered three hitsover the final three innings and picked up his first save.
South Alabama out-hit State 14-12 but stranded 12 base-runners, eightin scoring position.
Starter P.J. Walters (6-4) took the loss, allowing seven runs (allearned) with seven hits and five strikeouts. Chase Christianson and MattPetersen also pitched for USA.
The two teams conclude their two-game set Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. atSmith-Wills Stadium. Junior lefty Brooks Dunn will start for theBulldogs.
