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MOBILE, Ala.  – University of South Alabama scored three unanswered runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat Louisiana at Lafayette 7-5 Friday at Stanky Field.

South Alabama (15-23, 9-7 SBC) trailed 5-4 after six-and-a-half innings before adding three runs on three hits in the bottom-half of the seventh. Nick Zaharion led off the inning with a single, and later scored on an RBI single by Dustin Dalken to tie the game 5-5. After Hunt Griffith drew a two-out walk, Robby Campbell delivered an RBI single to right-center field to score Harold Collins, who pinch-ran for Dalken, to give the Jags a 6-5 lead. Griffith scored later in the frame on a wild pitch for the game’s final run.

Jarrett Bailey (1-0) tossed 2 2/3 shutout innings in relief and recorded five strikeouts. Bailey retired all eight batters he faced in order without allowing a hit to earn his first win of the season. Kyle Bartsch pitched one shutout inning and struck out two to earn his seventh save of the year.

Jaguar left-hander Phillip Byrd allowed four earned runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings and struck out five without factoring in the decision.

“Phillip (Byrd) kept us around and battled through the third inning,” USA head coach Mark Calvi said. “I thought he did a really good job – he set the tone early. And you can’t say enough about (Jarrett) Bailey and (Kyle) Bartsch. Our guys have been swinging the bats well. When you don’t give up and keep working hard, sometimes things go your way. These guys never quit, and I’m glad to see some good things are happening for them.”

Campbell went 4-for-4 with two RBI to lead South Alabama at the plate. Whitt Dorsey had three hits, and Dalken finished 2-for-4 with two RBI. Zaharion added two hits and two runs scored, and J.T. Files had two hits – including a double – and scored one run.

Louisiana-Lafayette (17-20, 6-10 SBC) loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the third on three consecutive singles by Jace Conrad, Adam Todd and Brian Bowman. Ryan Leonards followed with a walk to score Conrad and give the Cajuns a 1-0 lead. ULL doubled its lead to 2-0 later in the inning on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Compton to score Todd.

The Jaguars answered with their first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning when Zaharion reached on a hit by pitch to lead off the frame, and later scored on a Cajun fielding error. USA tied the game 2-2 later in the inning on an RBI single by Campbell to score Files. The Jags then took a 3-2 lead one batter later when Conrad mishandled a ball off the bat of Earley at second base to allow Griffith to cross the plate.

Dalken pushed the Jaguar lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth on a one-out single to right field to score Zaharion, who singled earlier in the inning.

Louisiana-Lafayette answered in the top of the sixth with three runs to take a 5-4 lead on an RBI double by Frederick and two-run double by Conrad for its final runs of the game.

Conrad went 3-for-3 with two doubles and a run scored to lead the Ragin’ Cajuns at the plate.

The series will continue at 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:  Campbell recorded his third consecutive multiple-hit game … Bartsch earned his seventh save of the season … Bailey struck out a season-high five batters in 2 2/3 shutout innings … Zaharion recorded his team-leading 14th multiple-hit game … South Alabama improved to 55-34 all-time against the Ragin’ Cajuns, and 26-10 all-time at Stanky Field.