Official Box Score 

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Brandon Sage pitched seven solid innings Wednesday night, but two costly errors gave Southern Miss a 4-2 victory over South Alabama at Pete Taylor Park. Sage (0-1) struck out seven and walked just one in his first start of the season.

The Jaguars (3-2) picked up just five hits off Golden Eagle starter Todd McInnis (2-0) ? a double by Clint Toomey and singles by Sean Laird, Ryan Bohanan, David Doss and Ryne Jernigan. USM totaled eight hits, three of which went for extra bases.

Southern Miss got on the board first with an unearned run in the opening frame. Brian Dozier singled with one out, then came home when third baseman Chris Davis let a grounder go through his legs with two outs. The lead was 2-0 after two when Drew Carlson hit a solo home run over the left field fence.

South Alabama tied the game with single runs in the third and fourth. Laird led off the third with a single and stole second. Two strikeouts followed, but the second got away from the Golden Eagle catcher and runners were at the corners. Davis hit a sacrifice to center to put the Jaguars on the board. A leadoff walk to Toomey led to a manufactured run and a 2-2 tie. Toomey advanced to second on a foul out, then moved to third on a wild pitch. He came home on a ground out by Jernigan.

Southern Miss took the lead for good in the fifth. Carlson led off with a double, then came home on a fielder’s choice by Chris Matesich. Carleson scored again in the seventh for a 4-2 lead after doubling with one out. He was headed to third on a Josh Fields single when Ray Kruml’s throw from centerfield sailed into the USM dugout.

South tried to rally in the ninth, putting runners on first and second with one out, but Tyler Conn picked up his third save of the year by striking out the final two batters.

The Jaguars return home this weekend for a four-game set against Manhattan. First pitch against the Jaspers Friday night is 6 p.m.