HOUSTON, TX -- The Southern Baseball team battled back and hung on for a 6-4 win over Rice, on the final of the three-game weekend series Sunday afternoon at Reckling Park.
Joseph Battaglia III (2-1) picked up the win throwing 5.1 innings while allowing eight hits, four runs and had three strikeouts. SU offense posted 10 hits. Rice Brandon Deskins (1-2) took the loss after he allowed four runs and four hits in 3.0 innings.
Southern is now (6-12, 4-2 SWAC) and Rice fell to 10-9.
A total of four Jaguars posted multi-hit game –
Tremaine Spears (2 for 5),
O'Neill Burgos (2 for 5),
Zavier Moore (2 for 5) and
Quincy Smith II (2 for 3).
Rice got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the first inning an RBI double down the left field line scored one run for the Owls.
Southern added four runs in the top of the third to take a 4-1 lead. Smith got things going with a double to left field, but got caught trying to steal third.
Jaylen Armstrong walked, then stole second base.
Judah Wilbur walked to put runners at first and second and Spears singled up the middle to score Armstrong, while Wilbur advanced to second. Burgos doubled to right center scoring Spears and Wilbur. Moore singled through the left side scoring Burgos.
"Games 1 and 2 we didn't compete much on the mound or in the box. Game 2 we got a good start but free bases killed us later in the game. Unlike the first two games, the third game we got a good start on the mound and gave our hitters a chance to figure out the pitchers. Battaglia, Guienze, and Ozoa all did a great job of keeping them off balance. The energy, focus, and grit was there today! We have to continue to bring that everyday", said SU Head Coach
Chris Crenshaw.
In the fourth,
Brandon Green led off the frame with a walk. Smith followed by singled to center field, while Green advanced to third. Armstrong grounded out to the pitcher but was able to score Green and advance Smith to second as Southern took a 5-1 lead.
Top of the sixth inning after Green started things off with a double and Smith followed by reaching on a sac bunt and error by pitcher while Green advanced to third. Armstrong grounded out to first base while Green scored and Smith advanced to second to take a 6-1 lead.
Rice added three runs in the top of the sixth, but still trailing the Jags 6-4.
Enrique Ozoa came out in the Top of the seventh and recorded his second save, only giving up two hits in 3.0 innings of work.
UP NEXT
Southern returns to action on Wednesday when they play at South Alabama at 6:30 p.m. The Jaguars return to Southwestern Athletic Conference play on Friday, March 26 when they face Arkansas-Pine Bluff in a three-game series in Frisco, Texas, as part of the Lone Star Diamond Classic.
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