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MOBILE, Ala.  – Brent Mitchell slugged two home runs and the Jaguars used a six-run sixth inning to defeat Middle Tennessee 7-5 Friday evening in Sun Belt Conference action at Stanky Field.

South Alabama (11-15, 6-1 SBC) earned their fifth consecutive SBC win with Friday’s victory.

The Jaguars faced a 2-1 deficit in the sixth inning before rallying for six runs with two outs in the bottom-half of the frame. Dustin Dalken drew a one-out walk, and later scored to tie the game 2-2 on Graham Odom’s two-out RBI single up the middle of the infield that chased Middle Tennessee starter Hunter Adkins from the game. Nolan Earley followed with a two-run single to the left side of the infield that scored Hunt Griffith and Odom and gave USA a 4-2 lead. Mitchell then delivered his second homer of the game over the left field wall that pushed the Jaguar lead to 6-2. Jordan Patterson then reached on a hit by pitch, stole second and scored on Whitt Dorsey’s RBI single to right field that increased the USA lead to 7-2.

“We talked to these guys about the game and the inning never being over,” USA head coach Mark Calvi said. “Nolan Earley had a big single that drove in two runs when they (Middle Tennessee) went to the bullpen. We needed just about every one of those runs; it was huge. I was just proud of our guys and the way they battled.”

Middle Tennessee (15-12, 3-4 SBC) cut the USA lead to 7-3 in the top of the seventh on a two-out RBI single by Hank LaRue, and added the game’s final two runs in the top of the eighth on a Jaguar error and RBI single by Jordan Rorex .

Phillip Byrd (3-0) scattered nine hits in 6 2/3 innings, and allowed three runs while striking out seven and issuing just one walk to earn his third win of the season. He retired the first nine batters he faced before Ryan Ford led off the top of the fourth with an infield single, and later scored when Trent Miller flared a single to center field to give Middle Tennessee a 1-0 lead.

“(Phillip) Byrd has come a long way,” Calvi said. “He typifies the bend-but-don’t-break mentality. It wasn’t easy, but he grinded it out for us. All I can ask is for them (starting pitchers) to give us a chance, and that’s what he did. That’s what a Friday night guy does, and I was thrilled for Phillip to get back on track after being a little rocky last week. That might have shaken some guys’ confidence, but he got right back up there and I couldn’t be happier for him.”

The Blue Raiders strung together consecutive one-out singles in the top of the fifth, and doubled their lead to 2-0 on an RBI single to center field by Justin Guidry.

Mtichell put USA on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning with a two-out solo homer, his first of the season, over the Kit’s Korner deck in left field.

Kyle Bartsch pitched 1 1/3 shutout innings in relief, and allowed just one hit with two strikeouts to earn his fourth save of the season.

Adkins (3-3) took the loss in 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits with three strikeouts and a pair of walks.

Mitchell went 2-for-4 with two homers, a career-high three RBI and two runs scored to lead South Alabama at the plate. Odom and Dorsey had two hits and one RBI apiece, and Odom also scored a run. Earley finished with a hit, two RBI and a run scored, and Dalken went 2-for-3 with a double and one run.

“I couldn’t be happier for (Brent) Mitchell,” Calvi said. “The kid has stripes in this program. He’s fully vested, and has invested a lot of his time; he has credentials and I couldn’t be happier for him because he hasn’t played a lot in three years. He’s a great team guy and is the hardest worker on the team.”

Miller went 3-for-5 with a double and one RBI to lead the Blue Raiders at the plate.

South Alabama will go for its third consecutive SBC series win in game two, which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Saturday 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).



NOTES:  Mitchell recorded his first career multi-home run game, and drove in a career-high three runs … Dorsey has hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games, and recorded multiple hits in eight of those contests … Byrd matched a career high with seven strikeouts, and recorded his second quality start of the season … Patterson extended his on-base streak to 23 games, and has hit safely in five straight contests … Mitchell extended his hitting streak to five games … Zaharion extended his on-base streak to 23 games.