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MOBILE, Ala.  – Left-hander Jacob Noble and right-hander Brandon Boyle combined for a three-hit shutout and 10 strikeouts to lead University of South Alabama baseball to a 10-0 series-clinching win over Stephen F. Austin Saturday at Stanky Field.

In his first career start, Noble allowed just two hits in 5 2/3 innings and struck out seven against three walks.

“It was a little shaky early on, but I started establishing my curveball and that really opened up the zone,” Noble said. “After that I just had to throw strikes and let our defense do what they do.”

Boyle went 3 1/3 innings and allowed only one hit while striking out three in his first career appearance to earn the save. It marked the first time the Jags have shut out an opponent since a 4-0 win over Western Kentucky in 2011.

“Noble went out there and did a good job,” USA head coach Mark Calvi said. “He took us to the sixth inning, and I thought he was outstanding. And I can’t say enough about Brandon Boyle and the job that he did today.”

South Alabama (2-0) broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third with three runs after a crucial SFA error. Cole Billingsley singled, stole second then scored on a two-out fielding error by Lumberjack first baseman Max Lamantia. Jeff DeBlieux followed with a single through the right side of the infield to double the Jag lead to 2-0. Jordan Patterson then singled, and Nolan Earley followed with an RBI single back up the middle to push the USA lead to 3-0.

Noble then settled in and retired 14 of the final 17 batters he faced before giving way to Boyle in the top of the sixth.

The Jags added two runs in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out throwing error by SFA third baseman Zach Benson to increase their lead to 5-0.

USA then doubled its lead to 10-0 with a five-run seventh inning, highlighted by a two-run single from Hayden Jones, and RBI singles by Graham Odom, Billingsley and Earley.

“The thing I was most impressed with was that five of our 10 runs came with two outs,” Calvi said. “That’s going to pay dividends down the stretch. You win ballgames with two-out hits and RBIs. I’m proud of the guys for the way they approached their at-bats. We had a few too many strikeouts, but for the most part we swung the bats pretty well on a rough day to play baseball. It’s important to win every game around here, and we expect the effort to win every single baseball game.”

Earley went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored to lead all hitters. Billingsley finished 2-for-5 with an RBI, one run scored and a stolen base, and Patterson added two hits and two runs. Jones finished with a hit, one run and two RBI, and DeBlieux recorded one hit, one RBI and scored twice.

Benson, Hunter Dozier and Mackenzie Handel had one hit apiece for Stephen F. Austin (0-2).

The series will conclude with game three at 1 p.m. Sunday 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).