Hair homers in season-opening loss at South Alabama

 

MOBILE, Ala. – A five-run third-inning proved too much for the University of Evansville baseball team to overcome as the Purple Aces dropped the season opener to South Alabama on Friday night at Stanky Field.

“It was a great college baseball game,” said eighth-year UE head coach Wes Carroll. “Aside from the big inning, it was two pitchers going head-to-head. Their pitchers gave us some chances later in the game, and I’m looking forward to getting back at it again tomorrow. The weather is fantastic.”

The Jaguars (1-0) opened up the scoring in the contest on a Drew LaBounty one-out fielder’s choice and a throwing error from UE second baseman Trey Hair resulted in another. Singles from Danny Martinez and Carter Perkins as well as a sacrifice fly from Jared Barnes made it 5-0 before Aces pitcher Conner Strain induced a ground ball to get out of the frame.

Strain would be pegged with the loss, tossing five innings and giving up five hits and five runs (two earned). He also struck out six.

It would be the Aces’ turn to capitalize on a miscue in the ensuing frame as Josh Jyawook reached on a fielding error by USA left fielder Dylan Hardy and ultimately advanced to third on a wild pitch before a Hair sac fly cut the deficit to four.

An inning later, another error in left field with the bases loaded brought home two more Aces runs, but USA’s Kevin Hill fanned Shain Showers to end the frame and limit the damage.

Hill, the Sun Belt Preseason Pitcher of the Year, struck out 10 UE batters on the night, allowing one hit and three unearned runs over six innings.

Hair closed the gap even further with a solo home run in the top of the eighth, but Jaguar relievers Hunter Soleymani, James Traylor and Mike Dolloff responded by allowing just one more base runner over the course of UE’s final five outs.

The Aces will return to action at Stanky Field on Saturday. First pitch is slated for 2:00 p.m., and the series is scheduled to end on Sunday with a 1 p.m. start.