Box score


MOBILE, Ala. – Alabama State pitchers combined to allow just four hits in a 5-0 shutout over University of South Alabama baseball Tuesday at Stanky Field.

ASU right-hander Mike Estevez (1-0) tossed five shutout innings, allowing just three hits while issuing five walks with five strikeouts to earn his first win of the season. USA left-hander Jared Gates suffered the loss in seven innings, allowing one run on just three hits with a walk and three strikeouts.

Richard Amion led off the game with a solo home run to left-center field to give ASU a 1-0 lead.

Following the leadoff homer, Gates retired 18 of his next 19 batters with a sixth-inning walk as the only blemish, however, the southpaw rolled a 6-4-3 inning-ending double play ball one batter later. Gates allowed just two hits after the first-inning home run – a third-inning triple by Amion and seventh-inning single from Waldyvan Estrada – and allowed only one hit over his final four innings.

"Gates really battled for us tonight," head coach Mark Calvi said. "I thought he was outstanding."

The Jags looked to tie the game 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth when Logan Kirkland singled to left field with a runner in scoring position, but ASU left fielder Dillon Cooper's threw a strike to Hornet catcher Richard Gonzalez who tagged Davis Knapp out while trying to slide home with the game-tying run.

USA (1-3) threatened in the bottom of the seventh when it loaded the bases with two outs on three walks, but ASU right-hander Hunter McIntosh escaped the jam with an inning-ending flyout to center field.

ASU (3-1) loaded the bases with one out in the top of the eighth on a leadoff single from Cooper, hit by pitch from Tripp Hobbs to Einar Muniz and walk by Amion. Gonzalez followed with a two-run single to left field to extend the Hornet lead to 3-0.

ASU scored the game's final runs in the top of the ninth on a two-run homer to left field by Dexter Price. South Alabama left 14 runners on base in the game, while ASU stranded five.

Amion went 2-for-4 with a triple, a home run, one RBI and a run scored to lead the Hornets at the plate. Adam Ballew, Davis Knapp, Hayden Jones and Matt Wojciechowski had one hit apiece to lead USA.

"It was disappointing tonight all the way around, especially from an offensive standpoint," Calvi said. "The amount of men we left on base all weekend was disappointing."

South Alabama will return to action this weekend with a three-game series at New Orleans, beginning Friday at 6:30 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).