Photo gallery
Box score

MOBILE, Ala. – Freshman catcher Jared Barnes collected four hits in his collegiate debut, and right-hander Cody Van Aken tossed 4 2/3 scoreless innings to lead the University of South Alabama baseball team to a 7-3 win over New Orleans Friday night at Stanky Field.

Barnes finished 4-for-5 in the contest with four singles to lead all Jaguar hitters at the plate. Cole Gleason added two hits, including a double, and two RBI. Cole Billingsley had one hit and one RBI in his first game since 2013.

Van Aken (1-0) earned the win in his USA debut after allowing just one hit while striking out four and issuing one walk 4 2/3 relief innings. He retired the first eight batters he faced in order, including a strikeout to the first hitter he faced out of the bullpen.

UNO left-hander Hunter Medine (0-1) took the loss in 1 1/3 innings pitched, allowing five runs on two hits with three walks.

The Privateers loaded the bases with one out in the top of the second after Sam Carierre reached on an error by Bud Collura to lead off the inning, followed by a pair of singles from Jonathan Coco and Jonathan Santana that were sandwiched between a strikeout by Jaguar starter Austin Stephens. UNO took a 1-0 lead later in the inning on an RBI fielder's choice by Ray Veit.

The Privateers doubled their lead to 2-0 in the top of the third when Samuel Capielano doubled to lead off the inning, and later scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Preston Marsh.

Matt Bolger led off the USA bottom of the third with a walk, and Drew LaBounty followed to reach base on a hit by pitch. A sacrifice bunt by Collura moved both runners into scoring position before Gleason delivered a two-out, two-run double to right field to tie the game 2-2.

UNO (0-1) answered to take a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth when Santana reached on a hit by pitch from Stephens with one out then stole second before advancing to third on a flyout to right field by Veit. He scored one batter later on an RBI infield single to first base by Chaz Boyer.

USA (1-0) tied the game in the bottom of the fourth when LaBounty reached on a two-out walk, and scored on an RBI single to right field by Billingsley. The Jags then took a 4-3 lead one batter later when Collura scored on a fielding error by UNO second baseman Veit. Medine then balked with the bases loaded to force home Billingsley and push the Jag lead to 5-3.

South Alabama pushed the game's final runs across in the bottom of the fifth. Garrett DeGallier and Connor Hawthorne reached on consecutive walks to lead off the inning, and moved up one base each following a sacrifice bunt by Bolger. LaBounty walked with one out to load the bases before DeGallier scored on a wild pitch to double the USA lead to 6-3. Ryan Raspino, who pinch-ran for Hawthorne earlier in the inning, then scored on fielding error by UNO first baseman Marsh for the game's final run.

USA will attempt to clinch the series in game two of the three-game set at noon Saturday at Stanky Field.

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).