DH Game 1 box score
DH Game 2 box score
Photo gallery

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama baseball team secured its second series win of the season with a doubleheader sweep of Brown Saturday at Stanky Field.

Game 1 – USA 13, Brown 12  (10 inn.)
Matt Bolger delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th inning to lead the Jaguars to a 13-12 win over Brown in game one of Saturday's doubleheader.

South Alabama (8-3) faced a three-run deficit heading into its final at-bat in game one, but rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings.

USA cut the Brown lead to 12-10 when Daniel Martinez singled to right field with no outs to score Cole Billingsley, who reached on a leadoff walk. A sacrifice fly to left-center field by Cameron Cummings scored Adam Ballew to cut the Brown lead to one run. Following a walk by Davis Knapp to load the bases, Drew LaBounty received a base on balls to score Bolger – who pinch-ran for Martinez earlier in the inning – and tie the game 12-12.

The Jaguar rally in the 10th inning started with a leadoff walk by Ballew on four straight pitches. Billingsley followed with a bunt-single before a wild pitch from Brown left-hander Austin French moved both runners into scoring position. After working the count to 3-1, Bolger delivered the game-winning hit into center field.

Four Jaguars recorded multiple hits in game one, led by Bud Collura who went 3-for-6 with a double, one run scored and tied a career high with four RBI. Billingsley finished 3-for-5 with two RBI and one run, and Ballew added two hits, two RBI and two runs.

Brown jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a one-out RBI double down the left-field line by Josh Huntley, and RBI groundout to first by Marc Sredojevic. The Bears extended their lead to 5-0 in the top of the second, highlighted by an RBI sacrifice fly to right field off the bat of Nick Fornaca and an RBI single to right-center from Huntley.

USA pushed its first two runs of the game across in the bottom of the second on a one-out RBI single to right field from Collura that scored Ryan Raspino from second, and a sacrifice fly to center field by Ballew that plated Collura and cut the Brown lead to 5-2.

But Brown answered with four runs in the top of the third on a grand slam to left field by Robert Henry to push its lead to 9-2. The Bears added to their lead with their 10th run of the game on a one-out single to left-center field by Kevin Guthrie for a 10-2 advantage.

South Alabama responded with two runs in the bottom of the fourth on a one-out, two-run double down the left-field line by Collura to cut the Brown lead to 10-4. The Jags cut the Bear lead in half at 10-5 one inning later on a two-out RBI single to center field by LaBounty.

Brown answered with a run in the top of the sixth on a two-out RBI single to right-center field by Brian Ginsberg for an 11-5 lead.

But the Jags responded by loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh, and cut the Bear lead to 11-6 on an RBI single to first base by Collura. Ballew followed with an RBI single through the left side of the infield to cut the Brown lead to 11-7, which also left the bases loaded. Billingsley then delivered a two-run single to right field to cut the Jaguar deficit to two runs.

Brown answered with with a solo home run to left field by Huntley to lead off the top of the eighth and extend its lead to 12-9 before USA's three-run ninth to extend the game.

Jaguar right-hander Ben Taylor (1-0) earned his first win of the season with one scoreless relief inning, and finished with a pair of strikeouts and one walk. Austin French (0-1) suffered the loss for the Bears, allowing one run on two hits with one walk without recording an out.

Game 2 – USA 7, Brown 0
Right-hander Ryne Long turned in the Jags' first quality start of the season in the nightcap. Long (1-1) tossed seven scoreless innings, and allowed five hits while striking out five and issuing four walks to earn the first win of his Jaguar career.

"I just tried to pound the zone," Long said. "It was a long day. We could have easily just rolled over in that first game, but we kept battling. Our guys deserved a good start and a chance to win. It's a lot more comfortable to go out there and pitch with a lead. We didn't swing it as good in the second game, but we put them away in the later innings. (Hunter) Soleymani and (Justin) Flores came in and shut the door; it was a good win."

South Alabama spotted Long a three-run lead after the first three frames. The Jags pushed the game's first run across in the bottom of the first, and extended their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the second on a two-run triple to center field by Ballew.

Long then allowed just three hits while striking out three Brown batters over his final four innings, before giving way to Hunter Soleymani in the eighth and Justin Flores in the ninth.

"Ryne Long was great," head coach Mark Calvi said. "Quality starts have been hard to come by. We have had some decent pitchers who have not given us quality starts. Long was good last week against Arkansas; he competed his tail off. He kept us in this ballgame. He mixed all of his pitches well, and kept the running game in check. He was outstanding. The team had a lot of confidence with him out there, so that was big. He went deep into the game and did a fantastic job. He saved us from having to go to the bullpen too early. Brown can swing the bats. I was just looking for a starter that could hold down the game from the start. Long threw strikes, and really competed for us. I am super-proud of him and his effort tonight."

The Jags added the game's final runs in the bottom of the eighth on RBI singles from LaBounty and Ballew, and a two-run triple by Billingsley.

Ballew finished 2-for-5 with a triple, three RBI and a run scored in the second game to lead the Jags at the plate. Billingsley added a triple and two RBI. Robert Henry went 3-for-5 with a double to lead Brown offensively.

Brown right-hander Eddie Fitzpatrick (0-1) took the loss in the second game, allowing three runs on one hit with four strikeouts and four walks in 4 2/3 innings.

USA will attempt to sweep the four-game series Sunday at noon. Jaguar left-hander Jared Gates is scheduled to make his second start of the season.

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).