Box scores


MOBILE, Ala. – Western Kentucky used a five-run sixth inning and quality start from Tanner Perkins to knock off University of South Alabama baseball 10-8 Friday at Stanky Field.

Perkins (3-2) allowed two runs on six hits, and struck out four while issuing one walk in six innings to earn the win. Taylor Haydel allowed one hit and struck out one in one inning to earn his fifth save of the season.

Jaguar right-hander Jarron Cito (3-2) took the loss in five innings, allowing seven runs on six hits with a strikeout and three walks.

South Alabama jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the game’s first inning when Jeff DeBlieux led off the bottom of the first with a double off the right-center wall, following an 11-pitch at-bat to open the inning, and scored on an RBI single by Drew Cofield. Jordan Patterson followed with a single to left-center field to put runners at the corners. Cofield then scored on an RBI groundout to first off the bat of Nick Zaharion to double the Jaguar lead to 2-0.

Consecutive singles by Regan Flaherty and Devin Kelly opened up the WKU top of the second, and the Hilltoppers pushed across their first run of the game later in the inning on an RBI fielder’s choice off the bat of Jordan Cessna.

WKU tied the game 2-2 in the top of the third on an RBI double to right field by Ryan Huck, and took a 3-2 lead one batter later on an RBI groundout to first by Flaherty. The Hilltoppers doubled their lead to 4-2 later in the inning on a wild pitch from Cito that allowed Huck to score from third.

WKU loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the sixth on consecutive singles from Flaherty and Kelly, and a walk by Ryan Messex. The Hilltoppers eventually plated five runs in the inning on two-run singles from Huck and Trevor Lowe, and an RBI single by Steve Hodgins.

The Jags loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth on a single by Patterson, Zaharion reached on an error and Whitt Dorsey reached on a hit by pitch from Perkins. But Perkins rolled a 6-4-3 inning-ending double play to escape the jam without allowing a run to cross.

Nolan Earley led off the bottom of the seventh with a double to the left-center gap, and scored on an RBI single to right field by Graham Odom to cut the WKU lead to 9-3. Later in the inning, Patterson doubled to left-center with two outs to plate Odom and cut the Hilltopper lead to 9-4.

A two-out RBI double to right field by Scott Wilcox in the top of the eighth pushed the WKU lead to 10-4.

The Jags loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth and cut the WKU lead in half on an RBI single by Odom. DeBlieux followed with an RBI single to left field to cut the Hilltopper lead to 10-6 following a WKU pitching change. Hilltopper left-hander Ian Tompkins walked Cofield to force Earley home and cut the WKU lead to 10-7. Patterson then reached on an RBI fielder’s choice to push across the game’s final run.

Patterson went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI to lead the Jaguars at the plate. DeBlieux finished 3-for-5 with a double, one RBI and two runs, and Odom had three hits, two RBI and two runs. Dorsey added two hits and a run.

The series will continue Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast live by the Sun Belt Network, and will be carried on CSS channel 37 in Mobile and can also be accessed on the internet via ESPN3.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).