LAFAYETTE, La. — Anthony Izzio pitched a career-high eight innings and five South Alabama players had multiple hits as the second-seeded Jaguars beat seventh-seeded UALR 10-2 on Wednesday in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Baseball Tournament.
Izzio scattered eight hits and allowed two runs, striking out three and walking one to earn his third win of the season. Brandon Boyle finished with a scoreless ninth inning in relief.
Four-Run First Inning
South Alabama took control in the bottom of the first inning, scoring four runs. Jordan Patterson and Nick Zaharion each drove in a run with singles, Patterson later scored on a fielder’s choice by Dustin Dalken, and Dorsey added a sacrifice fly to right-center field.
Patterson Leads the Offense
Patterson, named the Sun Belt Player of the Year this week, went 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored.
Jeff DeBlieux, Zaharion, Bud Collura and Robby Campbell also had multi-hit games for the Jaguars, who are coached by Sun Belt Coach of the Year Mark Calvi.
Winners’ Bracket Game Next
South Alabama will face tournament host Louisiana-Lafayette in a winners’ bracket game at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The Ragin’ Cajuns advanced with a 9-6 win over FIU on Wednesday evening.
Update: Louisiana-Lafayette Game Postponed
South Alabama’s second-round Sun Belt tournament game against Louisiana-Lafayette was postponed Thursday night because of inclement weather in the Lafayette area. The game before it, between Troy and FAU, was suspended in the top of the ninth inning.
The South Alabama-Louisiana-Lafayette game has been rescheduled for 12:30 p.m. Friday.
