MOBILE, Ala. -- Senior Ryne Jernigan drove in a career-high seven runs, including three on a game-tying home run in the second inning, to lift South Alabama to a 16-5 win over 27th-ranked Southern Miss Tuesday night at Stanky Field. The win gave the Jaguars (30-22) at least 30 wins for the eighth straight season.
The game, which had a 37-minute delay because of lightning, was called after seven innings because of the mercy rule.
Southern Miss (37-16) jumped out to early leads in the first and second innings. The Golden Eagles went up 2-0 after one on the first of two Brian Dozier home runs, a two-run shot to left center. But the Jaguars tied it up in their half of the inning on a one-out walk to Clint Toomey, a double down the right field line by Jernigan and a single to center by Ryan Bohanan.
USM held a 3-2 lead when Dozier hit another two-run home run in the top of the second, but Jernigan answered with a three-run blast to left center that evened the game at five after two innings.
The Jaguars broke the game open in the third, sending 10 men to the plate and scoring six runs. With one out, Bunky Kateon walked and Brad Hammac doubled, putting runners on second and third. Jake Overstreet singled to left for two RBIs, cutting the deficit to 5-4. After a walk, Clint Toomey singled to right, setting up a play at the plate, but the ball was dropped by catcher Trey Cuevas as Overstreet slid in. Jerningan followed with a double to left center, plating two more runs for a 6-5 lead. He later scored on an error by Dozier at short.
USA added four more runs in the fourth with the help of two USM errors. Kateon started things by reaching on a grounder that was booted at third. After a sacrifice, Overstreet reached on a second error by Dozier. Kruml doubled to left for a run and Jernigan singled in another. A wild pitch scored Jernigan before Sean Laird delivered an RBI single that made the score 15-5 after four.
The final run scored on a solo home run by Kateon.
“This (Southern Miss) is a team that should host a regional and it was just our day,” Head Coach Steve Kittrell said. “They had an off night. It was great to see all of our seniors do well. I thought Ryne had a really special night.”
Chris LaGrow (2-1) picked up the win by pitching a predetermined three innings. He allowed all five runs, but settled down for a scoreless third. Michael Logan, Miles Ethridge and Travis Johnson did not allow a hit in a combined four innings of work.
Freshman Collin Cargill made his first career start for the Golden Eagles, but gave up four runs in an inning-plus. Houston Brown (0-1) took the loss after surrendering six runs and four hits over 1.1 innings.
Before the contest, the Jaguars honored their eight seniors, who made the final appearance at Stanky Field. During the game, they paid tribute to members of the armed services by wearing limited-edition camouflage jerseys.
South Alabama wraps up the regular season this weekend with a three-game series beginning Thursday at Troy. The Jaguars need just one win to guarantee themselves a spot in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament beginning May 21.
