MOBILE, Ala. ? South Alabama gave up an early lead and was unable to get back in the game, as Western Kentucky knocked off USA by a score of 8-4 Sunday afternoon at Stanky Field. With the loss, USA drops to 10-7 on the season and 1-2 in the Sun Belt.

Western Kentucky improved to 9-6 on the season and 3-3 in the SBC. Hilltopper left-hander Evan Teague picked up the win; he is now 1-0. Kevin Nabors took the loss for the Jags, dropping his record to 2-2.

Western Kentucky got on the board in the top of the first inning, as the first three Topper hitters reached on a hit by pitch and a pair of singles. After a Chad Creger RBI single, Nabors got Jake Wells to bounce into a double play. Matt Hightower scored on the twin killing to make the score 2-0 WKU.

WKU scored two more runs in the top of the second inning as Terrence Dayleg reached on a throwing error to lead off the inning. J. B. Paxson then hit what looked to be a fly ball to right field which got into the wind and fell just over the fence to make the score 4-0 WKU.

South Alabama cut into the Topper lead in the bottom of the second as Ryne Jernigan walked and stole second. After a Ryan McCrory groundout moved the runner to third, Clint Toomey lined a single to left field to plate Jernigan and make the score 4-1.

South Alabama watched the deficit grow to four runs in the fifth. Scott Kaskie led off with a single and stole second. Chad Creger then lined a single off of the glove of Ryan Bohanan and into shallow right field. The fortuitous bounce allowed Kaskie to score from second, making the score 5-1.

South Alabama looked to get back in the game in the bottom of the fifth as the Jags loaded the bases with nobody out, chasing Beach from the game. WKU went to Teague out of the pen and he delivered, getting Bohanan and Jernigan to pop up in the infield before getting McCrory to fly out to left, to end the inning without allowing a run.

WKU extended the lead in the top of the sixth, plating three runs on four hits. Paxson reached on a single, which was followed by a bunt single by Drew Morgan. After Matt Payton struck out, Kaskie doubled, scoring Paxson. Creger then delivered a clutch, two-out single to center field, making the score 8-1 WKU.

The Jags tried to make things interesting with a two-spot in the bottom of the sixth inning. Clint Toomey and Derek O’Reilly both walked with one out in the inning. After Ray Kruml grounded out, Chris Davis delivered a two-out single to center field to make the score 8-3.

The Jags scratched one run across late in the game but could get no closer, falling by a final score of 8-4.

Next up for USA is a double-header against Nicholls State Tuesday afternoon at Stanky Field. Game time is set for 3 p.m. Live stats can be accessed at www.USAJAGUARS.com.