Box score

MOBILE, Ala. – Jaguar right-hander Carlton Paris tossed a career-high seven innings to lead University of South Alabama baseball to a 4-2 win over Jackson State Tuesday night at Stanky Field.

Paris (1-1) allowed two runs, only one of which were earned, on five hits while striking out three and issuing just one walk.

Right-hander Kyle Dees pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Paris, and did not allow a hit while striking out one to record his first save of the season.

“Carlton [Paris] did a tremendous job for us tonight,” South Alabama head coach Steve Kittrell said. “He scattered his hits and made pitches when he had to have them. It was good to see him go out and compete and give us a chance to win.””

Patterson went 2-for-4 with a double, home run, two RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base to lead the Jaguars at the plate. Logan Kirkland went 2-for-4 with a run scored, and Brent Tanner and Nolan Earley added a double apiece.

“Jordan [Patterson] had a big night for us at the plate,” Kittrell said. “For a freshman he is really playing well for us. Both he and [Logan] Kirkland really had solid games.”

South Alabama (11-8) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Jordan Patterson lifted a 1-1 pitch from Jackson State left-hander Cortney Nelson over the center field wall for his second home run of the season to give the Jaguars a 2-0 lead. Taylor White led off the inning with a single and scored on Patterson’s homer.

Jackson State (9-10) cut the USA lead to 2-1 in the top of the third inning when Jose Cruz doubled to left field and later scored on Kendall Logan’s ground out back to Paris.

The Jags answered to extend their lead to 3-1 in the bottom half of the third when Earley doubled to left-center field to score Patterson, who doubled to right field earlier in the inning.

After three consecutive scoreless frames, the Tigers cut the South Alabama lead to 3-2 in the top of the seventh inning, but South Alabama added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning on Trey Sorrells’ sacrifice fly to left field that scored Kirkland after he singled to lead off the inning.

Nelson (0-1) suffered the loss for JSU in seven innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts.

Cruz went 1-for-3 with a double and one run scored to lead the Tigers at the plate.

South Alabama will return to action Wednesday when it travels to Hattiesburg, Miss., for a 6 p.m. contest with Southern Miss.

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:  Paris recorded his longest career outing with seven innings pitched … Patterson hit his second career home run, and recorded his fourth multiple-hit game and second multiple-RBI game of the season … Kirkland recorded his eighth multiple-hit game of the season, and extended his hitting streak to five games … Dees earned his first save of the season.