MOBILE, Ala. ? Tyler Townsend went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and three RBI to help Florida International knock off the University of South Alabama 9-1 Friday night at Stanky Field.

Tom Ebert (6-3) earned the win for FIU (31-19, 15-10 SBC) by going 7.0 innings and allowing just one run on nine hits. The Jags (23-24, 11-13 SBC) stranded seven runners at third base over the last eight innings and 13 runners overall.

“Give a lot of credit to FIU ? Ebert threw very well, their team played very well, and we played flat like a team that just got out of exams,” head coach Steve Kittrell said. “That can’t happen again. We’ve got to show up tomorrow ready to play with more intensity.”

The Golden Panthers got the scoring started when they put up three runs in the third off Jag starter Miles Ethridge (4-3). Townsend’s two-run blast plated Greg Waddell, who reached on a walk, and Tim Jobe delivered a RBI double after Steven Stropp reached on an error.

USA answered with one run on three hits in the bottom half of the inning. Clint Reynolds, Adam Heisler and David Doss each singled in the inning, with Heisler driving in Reynolds for the Jags’ lone run of the night.

FIU responded with two runs in the fourth on two doubles, two walks and a hit batter. Ethridge handed the ball to the bullpen after laboring through four frames.

Jarrett Bailey allowed a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to extend FIU’s lead to 7-1 when Garrett Wittels brought in a pair of runs with a two-run single.

Phillip Byrd worked a scoreless sixth frame for the Jags, but USA’s offense was unable to put any more runs on the board. Jake Overstreet went 3-for-3, and Reynolds went 3-for-5 with one run scored.

Heisler and Ryan Bohanan added two hits apiece, but the Jags’ seven through nine hitters combined to go 0-for-11 with one walk.

Michael Raia worked the final three innings. He allowed two runs, one of which was earned, on three hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

FIU reliever Jorge Marban pitched a scoreless eighth inning, and Mason McVay escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to finish the game.

The loss was the first time USA has dropped a series opener since April 3. South Alabama and FIU return to action at 4 p.m. Saturday at Stanky Field.

Notes:  David Doss extended his career-long streak of games reaching base safely to 20 straight, while Adam Heisler (15 games) and Clint Reynolds (13 games) also set new career-best on-base streaks ... Derek O'Reilly’s 13-game hitting streak and 25-game on-base streak both came to an end ... The Jags had at least 10 hits for the fifth straight game.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).