MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Dustin Crenshaw tossed his first career complete-game shutout to lead the University of South Alabama baseball team to a 6-0 win over Middle Tennessee Saturday afternoon at Reese Smith Jr. Field.

Crenshaw (5-0) scattered seven hits over nine shutout innings, and struck out four while issuing his first walk of the season. The right-hander pitched 52 consecutive innings without issuing a walk this season, before surrendering a two-out pass to Blue Raider third baseman Hank LaRue.

Eight Jaguar starters recorded hits in the game, led by Brad Hook who went 2-for-4 with an RBI and one run scored. Logan Kirkland and Nolan Earley each added a hit, two RBI and a run scored. Taylor White had one hit, a run scored and two stolen bases, and Jordan Patterson drove in one run.

Middle Tennessee right-hander Hunter Adkins (0-6) took the loss in 3 1/3 innings pitched, allowing four runs on three hits with a strikeout and three walks.

Matt Drake and Dain McNabb had two hits apiece to lead the Blue Raiders at the plate.

The Jaguars took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Earley singled to right-center field to score Kirkland from second base, after he led off the game with a walk.

USA extended its lead to 4-0 in the top of the fourth on RBI singles by Patterson, Hook and Kirkland. Patterson singled through the right side to score Earley and double the USA lead after he led off the inning with a walk. Hook singled later in the inning to score Brent Tanner, who singled earlier in the inning, to give the Jags a 3-0 lead. Kirkland later delivered a two-out single to left field to plate Hook for the final run of the frame, which extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

The Jaguars increased their lead to 5-0 in the top of the sixth when Sorrells doubled to right field and later scored on Kirkland’s sacrifice fly to center field.

South Alabama (14-12, 4-4 SBC) added its final run of the game in the top of the ninth when White scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Hook.

With the win, the Jaguars evened the series with Middle Tennessee (7-18, 1-7 SBC) at one game apiece.

The series will conclude Sunday with the rubber match at 1 p.m. at Reese Smith Jr. Field.

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:  Crenshaw tossed his first career complete-game shutout, and issued his first walk of the season after 52 innings pitched … Kirkland extended his hitting streak to 11 games … Hook extended his hitting streak to seven games … USA improved to 36-18 all-time against Middle Tennessee.