Box score

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Garrett Harris tossed his third complete game of the season and allowed three runs while scattering nine hits to lead the University of South Alabama baseball team to a 6-3 win over Western Kentucky Friday night at Nick Denes Field.

Harris (7-3) struck out six and issued just two walks, while allowing just two earned runs in the game. The right-hander retired seven of the last eight batters he faced in the game.

“I felt good. I knew our offense was going to produce and keep producing like they did in the fourth inning,” Harris said. “They did a great job of coming back after Western Kentucky scored. The defense played a huge role in the win tonight. They made good plays behind me when they (Western Kentucky) put the ball in play. My adrenaline was pumping, but I just tried to stay within myself and throw strikes.”

After WKU took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on a two-out double by Ryan Huck, the Jaguars answered with three runs in the top of the fourth and never looked back. Nolan Earley and Logan Kirkland reached on consecutive singles to lead off the inning, before Brad Hook laced a double into the right-field corner to tie the game 1-1. Hunt Griffith followed with an RBI single to center field to give the Jags a 2-1 lead. Taylor White then reached on a fielder’s choice to score Griffith and push the USA lead to 3-1.

WKU (29-20, 14-11 SBC) cut the Jaguar lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth when Casey Dykes doubled and later scored on a throwing error by Kirkland.

South Alabama (26-23, 13-12 SBC) added three runs in the top of the sixth, aided by the second Hilltopper error of the game. Hook and Jordan Patterson reached on one-out singles, before Griffith grounded to second on what looked to be an inning-ending double play.But Ivan Hartle’s throw sailed wide of second base, allowing Hook to score and move Patterson to third. White singled to right field one batter later to score Patterson and push the Jag lead to 5-2. Griffith then scored on a safety squeeze by Jeff DeBlieux to extend the USA lead to 6-2, which chased Perkins out of the game.

Perkins (6-4) took the loss in 5 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on eight hits while striking out two and issuing two walks.

Hook went 2-for-4 with a double, one RBI and two runs scored to lead South Alabama at the plate. Patterson and Earley had two hits and one run scored apiece, White drove in two runs.

Ryan Hutchison went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base to lead the Hilltoppers at the plate.

“Garrett Harris threw outstanding,” South Alabama head coach Steve Kittrell said. “It was a quick-paced game where two good pitchers in the league were going at each other. I thought our guys executed as well as we have in quite a while. We had a couple of good hit-and-runs and clutch hits when we had to have them. We need to take this momentum we have and win tomorrow night and take the series. But we got off to a good start; it’s important to win that first game.”

The series will continue with game two Saturday at 3 p.m. at Nick Denes 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).

NOTES:  Harris tossed his third complete game of the season … Patterson recorded his 15th multiple-hit game of the season … Earley recorded his 18th multiple-hit game of the year … White drove in multiple runs for the fourth game this season … With the win, South Alabama improved to 78-48 all-time against Western Kentucky.