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MOBILE, Ala.  – Right-hander Michael Ellis allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings to lead Florida International to a 6-4 win over University of South Alabama baseball Saturday at Stanky Field.

Ellis (2-2) pitched around six walks and fanned four Jaguar batters to earn his second win of the season. Michael Gomez tossed one shutout inning with a walk and a strikeout to earn his league-leading 11th save of the season.

USA right-hander Payton Gardner (0-4) suffered the loss in six innings, allowing five runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and four walks.

FIU (25-17, 11-9 SBC) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the third on an RBI double to left field by Nathan Burns. Mike Martinez drove in Burns with a double down the right field line to double the Panther lead to 2-0.

The Panthers extended their lead to 3-0 in the top of the fourth on a two-out RBI single by Pablo Bermudez.

South Alabama (17-26, 11-9 SBC) answered in the bottom of the fourth on a two-out RBI single to right field by Robby Campbell that scored Dustin Dalken, who led off the inning with a double to center field.

T.J. Shantz delivered a two-out RBI single to center field in the top of the fifth to score Martinez, who doubled earlier in the frame, to push the Panther lead to 4-1.

FIU added a run in the top of the seventh on an RBI double by Shantz to increase its lead to 5-1.

The Jags rallied in the bottom of the eighth to score two runs and cut the FIU lead to 5-3. Hunt Griffith led off the inning with a walk, and Campbell followed with a single. Nolan Earley then doubled to right center field to plate Griffith and cut the FIU lead to 5-2. One batter later, Whitt Dorsey hit a line drive back at FIU reliever John Costa that scored Campbell. Nick Zaharion followed with an RBI groundout to second that scored Earley to cut the FIU lead to 5-4.

FIU loaded the bases in the top of the ninth on three walks, one of which was an intentional pass to Martinez. Adam Kirsch reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Burns for the game’s final run.

Shantz went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI, and Martinez finished 2-for-4 with two doubles, one RBI and three runs scored to lead the Panthers at the plate.

Earley went 2-for-5 with a double, one RBI and a run scored, and Campbell finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored to lead the Jags at the plate.

The series will conclude with the rubber match Sunday at 11:30 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).