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MOBILE, Ala. – Jaguar right-hander Jarrett Bailey combined with left-handers Phillip Byrd and Michael Carden to limit Auburn to one run on four hits to lead University of South Alabama baseball to an 8-1 win over the Tigers Tuesday evening at Stanky Field.
Bailey (1-0) tossed five innings, and allowed one run on three hits while striking out three to earn his first win of the season. Byrd pitched two shutout innings and allowed just one hit while striking out two, while Carden tossed two perfect innings with three strikeouts.
The four hits allowed by the Jaguar trio is the fewest allowed by South Alabama since the March 11th win over Columbia when the Jags held the Lions to just four hits.
“I was really focused and my arm felt really good,” Bailey said. “It felt better with each inning that I went out there. We came in here expecting to win, and we accomplished that.”
South Alabama (28-24) opened up an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Brent Tanner drilled a three-run home run over the right field wall on a 2-1 pitch from Auburn starter Andrew Morris. Jeff DeBlieux and Jake Overstreet each reached on walks ahead of Tanner.
South Alabama added its fourth run of the game in the bottom of the third when Tanner doubled and later scored on a throwing error at home plate by Auburn shortstop Casey McElroy on Logan Kirkland’s fielder’s choice.
USA tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run single by Nolan Earley to extend the Jaguar lead to 6-0. South Alabama loaded the bases on a walk by Hunt Griffith, single by DeBlieux and walk by Tanner. Earley then hit Auburn reliever Will Kendall’s 3-1 pitch back up the middle to score Griffith and DeBlieux.
Bailey held the Tigers hitless until the top of the fifth inning, when Creede Simpson singled down the right field line. The Tigers loaded the bases with one out later in the frame, but Bailey pitched out of the jam by inducing a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play off the bat of Dan Gamache.
“That was a huge play,” Bailey said. “I knew I had to get a ground ball, and he (Gamache) squared it up pretty good but he hit it right to Hunt (Griffith). Hunt did a good job turning it. He gave a good feed to Logan (Kirkland), and Logan did a good job completing it. That was huge to stop Auburn’s momentum.”
Auburn scored its lone run of the game in the top of the sixth on a solo homer to right field by McElroy.
The Jags tacked on two additional runs in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI single by Earley that also scored Overstreet after Simpson misplayed the ball in center field.
Morris (2-4) took the loss for the Tigers in 1/3 of an inning, allowing three runs on two hits with three walks.
Earley went 4-for-5 with three RBI to lead the Jags at the plate. Tanner finished 2-for-4 with a home run, double, three RBI and two runs scored. DeBlieux added two hits and three runs, Overstreet had two hits and two runs scored and Taylor White added a pair of hits.
McElroy went 1-for-4 with a homer, one RBI and a run scored to lead Auburn at the plate.
“It was a good win for us,” South Alabama head coach Steve Kittrell said. “Jarrett Bailey threw well and kept us in the game, and the guys out of the bullpen did a great job in relief. We got some timely hits, Tanner had a big home run in the first inning, and played good defense.”
South Alabama (28-24) will return to action when it hosts Troy in a three-game Sun Belt Conference series to close the regular season, beginning Thursday at 6 p.m. at Stanky 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: Bailey earned his first career win at South Alabama … Bailey’s five innings pitched was his longest outing since tossing 6 1/3 innings at Memphis on March 17 last season … Earley recorded a career-high four hits … Tanner homered for the ninth time this season … DeBlieux scored a career-high three runs … Tanner collected his team-leading 22nd multiple-hit and 14th multiple-RBI game of the season … South Alabama improved to 47-22 all-time against Auburn, and 27-9 all-time against the Tigers at Stanky Field … The Jaguars secured their first season sweep of Auburn since 2008 … South Alabama outscored Auburn 15-2 in two games this season.
