MOBILE, Ala. – South Alabama scored four runs in the opening stanza on Saturday, and the runs would keep coming for the host Jaguars as the University of Evansville baseball team fell 11-0 at Stanky Field.
“We were beat in all three facets of the game today, and tomorrow is going to be a very important day for us,†UE head coach Wes Carroll said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how we respond. We have to make sure we play as hard as we can on getaway day. Hopefully we can come out tomorrow with a lot of positive energy, and play the way I know that this team is capable of playing.â€
Patrick Schnieders, who was making his first start of the season, was pegged with the loss. The junior right-hander fell behind early as the Jaguars (0-2) opened the bottom of the first with back-to-back singles before Danny Martinez drew first blood with a three-run blast to right. An error would prove costly later in the frame as Brendan Donovan singled home another score.
A passed ball and a single would help the Jaguars tack on a fifth run in the third, and the team manufactured another score an inning later. In the fifth, the hosts added three more after a UE miscue, taking the lead up to 9-0.
Schnieders left the game after the fifth, ending with nine runs allowed (five earned) on 11 hits and a pair of walks. He also had three strikeouts.
Donovan and Jared Barnes led the offense for the Jaguars as the duo combined to go 7-for-10 at the plate with three scores and three runs batted in. Thomas Huston was credited with the win after allowing three hits over six innings, and Harrison Spruiell, Jordan Schmits and John Barr collectively allowed one hit over the final three frames.
For the Aces (0-2), Trey Hair continued his strong opening weekend, ending 3-for-3 with a walk, and Jonathan Ramon accounted for the only other UE hit.
Alex Weigand, a freshman, tossed the final three frames for the Aces, surrendering a pair of runs (one earned) in the bottom of the seventh inning.
UE will close out opening weekend on Sunday at Stanky Field, as Brandon Gomer will get the start on the mound for the Aces. First pitch is slated for noon.
NOTES: UE is 2-3 all-time vs. South Alabama and 6-9 against schools based in Alabama since 1978 … The Aces have won each of their past two season opening series, sweeping past Lipscomb in 2014 and taking two of three from UALR a year ago … Overall, UE is now 28-31 in season-opening series since 1978.
