MOBILE, Ala. - Junior first baseman Tyler Vick delivered a game-winning, three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to lead University of South Alabama baseball to a 9-4 win over Louisiana-Lafayette Saturday afternoon at Stanky Field.

The Collinsville, Miss., native went 2-for 4 with a double, a home run, three RBI and two runs scored to lead USA at the plate. Junior catcher Brent Tanner went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Sean Laird went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Adam Heisler finished 2-for-4 with a run scored.

USA junior right-hander Garrett Harris (3-1) earned the win in six innings, allowing four runs on nine hits while striking out four and issuing just one walk. Carlton Paris allowed just two hits in three shutout innings to earn his first save of the season.

"Our guys responded very well to a tough loss, and that's good to see," USA head coach Steve Kittrell said. "The guys turned a couple of double plays, and Carlton Paris was outstanding in relief. We needed that one because we had to bounce back, and it gives us a chance to win the series tomorrow. Fortunately, our guys responded well today when we needed it."

Louisiana-Lafayette left-hander Taylor Hubbell (1-2) took the loss in 4.2 innings, allowing five earned runs on five hits while striking out two and issuing one walk.   

Chad Keefer went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI to lead the Ragin' Cajuns at the plate.

ULL (11-8, 2-3) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on Chad Keefer's RBI single to left field to score Kyle Olasin, who reached base earlier in the inning on a hit by pitch.

The Ragin' Cajuns extended their lead to 2-0 in the top of the second when Justin Robichaux singled to left field to score Matt Goulas, who singled to lead off the inning.

USA answered to cut the ULL lead in half in the bottom of the second inning on a sacrifice fly to center field off the bat of Taylor White, which scored Vick, who doubled to lead off the inning.

ULL extended its lead to 3-1 in the top of the fifth inning when Tyler Frederick homered to left field.

The Jaguars responded with a four-run bottom of the fifth to take a 5-3 lead. Laird delivered a single through the left side to score Clint Reynolds, who reached on a wild pitch after striking out, and cut the ULL lead to 3-2. Vick then hit a three-run homer over the left-center field wall to give the Jags a 5-3 lead.

ULL cut the USA lead to 5-4 in the top of the sixth inning when Chad Keefer hit a solo home run over the left field wall on the first pitch of the inning.

But South Alabama answered again in the bottom of the seventh with four runs on three hits, with the final blow coming off the bat of Tanner. Jake Overstreet reached on an error by ULL third baseman Frederick to lead off the inning, and Laird followed with a single up the middle. Brown singled through the left side one batter later to score Overstreet and give the Jags a 6-4 lead. White then delivered a sacrifice fly to center field, his second of the game, to score Laird and increase the USA lead to 7-4. The Ragin' Cajuns brought in right-hander Ryland Parker to face Tanner, and Tanner hit a two-run home run to right field to put the Jags up 9-4.

USA (14-8, 4-1) returns to action Sunday at 1 p.m. when it hosts Louisiana-Lafayette for the final game of the three-game series.

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).

- USA -

NOTES: Overstreet started his 116th consecutive game at third base ... USA improved to 51-32 all-time against La.-Lafayette, and 29-10 against the Ragin' Cajuns in regular season games at Stanky Field ... Laird collected his team-leading 10th multiple-hit game of the season ... Tanner recorded his sixth multiple-RBI game of the year ... Harris earned his second win in as many starts.