Box score


MONROE, La. – Jaguar right-hander Hunter Soleymani allowed one run on two hits in 6 2/3 relief innings to lead University of South Alabama baseball to a 9-6 series-clinching win over Louisiana at Monroe Saturday at Warhawk Field.

Soleymani (1-0) struck out three and issued two walks to earn his first career win at USA.

“(Hunter) Soleymani was great,” head coach Mark Calvi said. “It wasn’t looking good for us. (Matt) Bell has been really good all year long, it just wasn’t his day today. He made some mistakes, and we made a few miscues behind him on plays that should have been made. But Bell didn’t give in and he kept competing, it just wasn’t his day. They (ULM) did a good job with him, and we had Soleymani ready and he was outstanding. He did a fantastic job.”

South Alabama (33-12, 14-6 SBC) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when DeBlieux led off the game with a triple to the right-center gap, and scored on an RBI groundout by Bud Collura.

But ULM (16-28, 5-15 SBC) loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the second on three consecutive singles from Justin Stawychny, Dalton Herrington and Taylor Abdalla. Jeff Fuller then reached on a Jaguar error at third that allowed Stawychny to score and tie the game 1-1. The Warhawks took a 2-1 lead one batter later on a sacrifice fly to left field by Kodie Tidwell. Chris Dudley then drew a one-out walk to load the bases for the second time in the inning, and Brandon Alexander followed with an RBI single to increase the ULM lead to 3-1.

The Jags scratched a run across in the top of the third when Collura reached on a two-out error at second, and scored on an RBI double to left field by Jordan Patterson to cut the ULM lead to 3-2.

But in the bottom of the third, following a leadoff single by Stawychny, Herrington homered to right field to increase the ULM lead to 5-2.

USA answered with a run in the top of the fourth on a two-out RBI single to left field by Robby Campbell that scored Nolan Earley from second, who singled to lead off the frame and advanced to second on a Warhawk passed ball, to cut the ULM lead to 5-3.

The Jaguars broke the game open with a six-run fifth inning to take a 9-5 lead. USA cut its deficit to one run in the when DeBlieux reached on a hit by pitch, advanced to second on a single to left-center field by Collura and scored on a the play after Dudley mishandled the ball in left field. Patterson followed and reached on a hit by pitch, and both he and Collura advanced one base each on a groundout to shortstop by Nick Zaharion. Earley then reached on catcher’s interference to load the bases for Dustin Dalken, who doubled off the left-center wall to give the Jags a 6-5 lead. Whitt Dorsey followed with a single to left field to plate Earley and push the USA lead to 7-5. Campbell then singled to load the bases, and DeBlieux followed with a two-out, two-run single up the middle to increase the Jag advantage to four runs.

“We had six guys with RBI, and when we have five or more (with RBI) and have double-digits in hits we usually have success,” Calvi said. “I’m proud of the way the guys battled. We were behind, it was just another different type of game that we had to grind through and stay together and not panic. And that’s what they did. We hit, played defense, pitched well and kept it together to win the game.”

Eight Jaguar starters recorded hits in the game, led by DeBlieux who went 2-for-4 with a triple, two RBI and two runs scored. Dalken finished 2-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a run. Collura had two hits, one RBI and scored twice, and Campbell finished with two hits and an RBI. Earley added two hits and two runs.

South Alabama will go for the series sweep Sunday at 1 p.m.

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).