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ARLINGTON, Texas – The University of South Alabama baseball team used a three-run first inning and quality start from Kevin Hill to defeat UT-Arlington 6-1 in the series opener Friday at Clay Gould Ballpark.

Hill (1-0) allowed just one run on five hits, and struck out four with two walks in seven innings pitched to earn his first win of the season.

The Jaguar offense spotted the right-hander a three-run cushion before he even took the mound. Consecutive singles by Bud Collura and Jared Barnes, and a walk by Cole Billingsley loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the first inning. Adam Ballew followed with an RBI single through the left side of the infield to plate Collura with the game's first run. An RBI groundout to first from Danny Martinez scored Barnes and doubled the Jag lead at 2-0. Cole Gleason followed with an RBI groundout to second that scored Billingsley and extended the USA lead to 3-0.

"The guys came out swinging the bats against a pretty good pitcher," head coach Mark Calvi said. "We got off some swings early in the count – we weren't waiting until late in the count – and got a few of pitches up in the zone and got a couple of early hits to give Kevin a little bit of a cushion. That was nice to see."

The Jaguars stretched their lead to 4-0 in the top of the third when Ballew singled with two outs, stole second then scored on a two-out RBI single to right field by Martinez.

A two-out RBI single to center field by Collura in the top of the sixth scored Garrett DeGallier, who reached on a one-out walk earlier in the inning, to push the Jag lead to 5-0.

UTA answered in the bottom of the sixth. The Mavericks loaded the bases with one out on consecutive walks by Hill, and a single to left field by Jackson Morris. Will Olson then lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to push across the Mavericks' lone run of the game.

USA added its final run of the game when Billingsley scored on a wild pitch following a one-out triple to center field.

Ballew went 3-for-5 with one RBI and a run scored to lead the Jags at the plate. Collura finished 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored, and Martinez added a hit and two RBI. Brady Cox went 2-for-4 to lead UTA offensively.

Jaguar right-hander Cody Van Aken tossed two scoreless innings with a pair of strikeouts and one walk in relief of Hill. UTA right-hander Chad Nack (2-1) took the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits with a strikeout and two walks.

"Kevin was good," Calvi said. "He wasn't throwing five to six pitches per hitter like he did last week, and ended up going seven innings for us. He did a good job aside from that leadoff walk that came around to score. Kevin did a nice job of mixing his pitches, and Cody Van Aken did a nice job in relief.

"I expected our guys to come out and play hard, and that's what they did. I expect the same thing tomorrow. The thing I was pleased with tonight was four different guys drove in runs:  Bud Collura, Adam Ballew, Danny Martinez and Cole Gleason. I'm really proud of Gleason and the way he swung the bat. He missed a week with a leg injury, and wasn't really seeing the ball well or getting off good swings. But tonight he stepped in there and looked like the Cole Gleason of old and maybe a little better – a guy who's a threat in there. It was good to see he and Danny swing the bat well. Our guys worked hard tonight and earned everything they got, and hat's off to our kids for playing super-hard."

The series will continue with game two Saturday at 2 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).