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MOBILE, Ala. – Adam Ballew delivered a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the University of South Alabama baseball team to an 8-6 win over New Orleans Sunday at Stanky Field.

South Alabama (3-0) swept the three-game series with the win. The Jags faced a one-run deficit heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, and loaded the bases with one out in the frame after a leadoff single by Garrett DeGallier and two consecutive hit by pitches to Ben Gann and Drew LaBounty. Bud Collura followed with a game-tying sacrifice fly to center field to score DeGallier and tie the game 6-6. Ballew then worked the count to 2-2 against UNO right-hander Sam Carriere before a single into center field scored Gann and LaBounty with the game's final runs.

"I was just trying to stay relaxed," Ballew said. "It was a big situation to come into off the bench. I just tried to stay calm and see a pitch and hit it. He threw me a fastball, but I was thinking he may throw something offspeed. But I was able to stay back and drive it."

UNO jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Jonathan Coco doubled to left field to lead off the frame, and scored one batter later on an RBI double to right field by Hezekiah Randolph. Chaz Boyer doubled the UNO lead later in the inning on an RBI fielder's choice that scored Randolph from third.

UNO (0-3) increased its lead to 3-0 in the top of the fourth when Jonathan Santana reached on a fielding error by Ryan Raspino at second to lead off the inning, and scored one batter later on a triple to the right-center gap by Ray Veit. Boyer followed with an RBI single inning to push the Privateer lead to 4-0.

But South Alabama responded with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Raspino and Connor Hawthorne reached on consecutive singles to lead off the inning before Collura delivered a one-out RBI single through the right side of the infield to plate Raspino and cut the UNO lead to 4-1. Cole Billingsley followed with an RBI single through the right side to cut the Jaguar deficit to two runs. Cole Gleason then lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to score Collura and cut the UNO lead to 4-3.

The Privateers loaded the bases with one out in the top of the sixth when Veit reached on a Jag error, Boyer reached base on a hit by pitch and Jay Robinson single to right-center field. Preston Marsh delivered a two-out, two-run single to center field later in the inning to double the UNO lead to 6-3.

USA loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth on single by DeGallier and Gann, and a walk by LaBounty. The Jags cut the UNO lead to 6-5 on two straight wild pitches from Privateer right-hander Darron McKigney in the inning.

USA right-hander Cameron Cochran (1-0) earned the win in two scoreless relief innings with three strikeouts. Justin Flores struck out one and allowed two hits in one inning of work to earn his first career save at USA. UNO right-hander Kevin Kelleher (0-1) allowed two runs in one-third of an inning in the loss.

DeGallier finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored to lead USA at the plate. Collura added a hit, two RBI and a run scored, and Ballew finished with a hit and two RBI. March went 2-for-4 with two RBI to lead UNO offensively.

"UNO outplayed us for about eight innings," head coach Mark Calvi said. "Their pitcher, Alex Smith, did a fantastic job on the mound. I thought they played better defense and he pitched better than our guys did, even though we did not issue any walks; I'm proud of that. But our guys hung around, and the mark of a pretty good team is when you don't play your best and still hang on and win the ballgame. Last year we would have lost this game. We don't know if we're a good team, yet. We have some of the components, but we have to clean some things up.

"We need to put more pressure on an opposing pitcher who is not overpowering, but does a good job mixing his pitches. But I am proud of the guys for hanging in there and getting the win. Ballew was big off the bench. He and Collura each did a great job driving in runs. We're happy to pick up the win and sweep the series."

South Alabama will return to action when it hosts Auburn Tue., Feb. 17, at 6:30 p.m. 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).